Darwen reach Finals Day
Morecambe pro Anwar Ali hit 66 and took 3/3
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Darwen earned their place at Finals Day in the Jamie Heywood Twenty20 Cup sponsored by Latham Baxendale without playing a game.
John Cordingley's side have a chance to mark their Club's centenary season with a major trophy after reaching the last four by virtue of winning South Two Group.
Leyland needed to win their final group game at Windsor Park against Chorley and better Darwen's run rate to reach Finals Day.
After winning the toss Leyland and electing to bat knew they had to score 153 and then win the game to go through, but their plans soon went awry.
Despite a fluent 52 off 42 balls by opener Henry Thompson Leyland quickly lost wickets in their runs chase.
Jimmy Lee accounted for Ian Dickinson and T20 captain and pro Brett Pelser and teenaged leg-spinner Matthew Critchley and Will Moulton then destroyed the middle order.
Moulton finished with 4/24, Critchley with 3/32 as Leyland subsided to 107 all out in 16.3 overs.
The champagne corks were already popping out Darwen way as Chorley romped to a resounding ten wickets victory.
Teenager Alex Weetman hit an unbeaten 40 off 38 balls with six fours and one six; pro Gaurav Dhar smashed four sixes and four fours in making 54 not out off 46 balls.
Chorley reached their target in the 13 th over.
Darwen will play Blackpool in the second semi-final on Finals Day on 17 July (2pm), while Kendal await their opponents in the first semi-final (11am).
Morecambe earn resounding win at Lodge Quarry
That looks likely to be Morecambe, who will ensure they will stage Finals Day if they win one of their two remaining games in North Two group next week.
Morecambe play Lancaster (away) on Tuesday and host Carnforth at Woodhill Lane next Friday.
Mark Woodhead's side earned their second win in as many games with a resounding victory over Carnforth at Lodge Quarry.
Carnforth and Lancaster have each played three games and lost twice.
Opener Lewis Edge hit a classy 50 off 34 balls with six fours and two sixes in Morecambe's 180/5.
Morecambe opener Lewis Edge hit 50 off 34 balls
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Pro Anwar Ali supplied the fireworks with a spectacular 66 off only 30 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes.
Ali looked set for a century until he was brilliantly run out by Carnforth T20 captain/pro Gareth Pedder's direct hit having added 107 for the second wicket with Edge.
Tommy Clough then hit an unbeaten 27 off 20 balls with four fours.
Gert Maartens undermined Carnforth's hopes with a superb opening spell of 4/26.
Gert Maartens was Morecambe's bowling hero with 4/26
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Maartens clean bowled Ryan Nelson, Phil Thornton and Lewis Bradley and had Adam Cowperthwaite caught behind.
Chris Williams bowled Pedder and pro Ali then entered the attack to take 3/3 from 13 balls, clean bowling opener Dave Robinson, Phil Harvey and Brad Hoyle.
James Law and Clough weighed in with a wicket apiece as Carnforth subsided to 69 all out, giving Morecambe victory by 111 runs.
Only Robinson (13) and Harvey (13) reached double figures as seven Carnforth batsmen were bowled.
Gert Maartens celebrates bowling Lewis Bradley
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Jamie Heywood Twenty20 Cup sponsored by Latham Baxendale
Friday 1st July
Carnforth v Morecambe
Morecambe beat Carnforth by 111 runs
Morecambe 180 - 5 (20 ov) (A Ali 66, L Edge 50), Carnforth 69 (17.1 ov) (G Maartens 4-26)
Chorley v Leyland
Chorley beat Leyland by 10 wickets
Leyland 107 (16.3 ov) (H Thompson 51, W Moulton 4-24), Chorley 109 - 0 (12.3 ov) ( G Dhar 54*, A Weetman 40*)
