Lancaster favourites to complete Finals Day line-up
Will Moulton hit 46 for Chorley at Darwen |
Preston became the third team to qualify for Finals Day in the Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup without lifting a bat in anger.
Darwen's last-ball defeat at home to Chorley after another fiercely fought game confirmed that Preston, holders of the competition would progress from South Two Group.
The winners of that group have the added bonus of hosting Finals Day on Sunday 25 July and so West Cliff will be the stage for one of the highlights of the league's calendar.
Preston have a 100pc record with four wins from as many games with Leyland, Darwen and Chorley now locked on four points apiece.
Preston host Darwen next Wednesday (7 July) before travelling to Fox Lane to take on Leyland the following evening (8 July) as they prepare for Finals Day.
Darwen needed to win against Chorley, beat Preston and then hope Leyland defeated Preston to have any hopes of progressing on run rate.
But they fell just short after a thrilling game at a sunlit Birch Hall that went down to the final ball.
Niall Burke top-scored for Darwen with 57 not out |
Darwen made 148 for 3 in their 20 overs with in-form pro Mohammad Zaman Khan hitting 54 off 47 balls and Niall Burke top-scoring with an unbeaten 57 off 45 balls. The pair shared a second wicket stand of 86.
Jack Catterall, one of seven Chorley bowlers used, grabbed a rare first-team wicket with his occasional leg-spin, having Darwen captain Neil Cordingley caught on the boundary by Will Moulton.
Mohammad Zaman Khan hit 54 for Darwen |
Moulton led the reply with 46 off 40 balls as Chorley looked to be cruising as they reached 141 for 2 in the 19th over.
The visitors were given a fluent start by James Reynard (23) and pro JJ Smuts (21) before Moulton and Catterall combined in a third wicket stand of 77.
Darwen skipper Neil Cordingley tests Chorley opener James Reynard |
But Chorley then lost four wickets for the addition of just one run with their victory target in sight.
Catterall was caught by Zaman Khan off Chris Wade for 26, Moulton run out by Jordan Clarke for 46, Ian Oakes bowled by Wade first ball and Stu Naden bowled by Zaman Khan for 1. Wade finished with three for 23 having also bowled Smuts.
Chorley wicketkeeper Alex Weetman held his nerve and, needing four to win off the last ball, steered Zaman Khan for a boundary behind square on the leg side to at least end Chorley's disappointing Twenty20 campaign on a winning note.
In the other game Lancaster made it three wins from three with a 96 runs victory over Carnforth at Lune Road.
Lancaster captain Michael Stevens underpinned his side's 166 for 3 with 81 off 69 balls.
Iain Perrieman and Ben Simm then each took three wickets as Carnforth were bowled out for 70.
Lancaster meet Morecambe next Friday at Lune Road in what could be a group decider in North Two group.
Morecambe must defeat Carnforth at Woodhill Lane next Tuesday to keep their hopes alive and then beat Lancaster and have a superior run rate to reach Finals Day.
Results
South Two Group
Darwen v Chorley
Chorley won by 4 wickets
Darwen 148 for 3 (Niall Burke 57no, MZ Khan 54), Chorley 149 for 6 (Will Moulton 46)
North Two Group
Lancaster v Carnforth
Lancaster won by 96 runs
Lancaster 166 for 3 (Michael Stevens 81), Carnforth 70
