By Richard Edmondson
Fleetwood aiming to defend their crown on Finals day |
The 2013 TWP Wealth Twenty-20 Finals Day gets underway this Sunday 7th July at Netherfield Cricket Club.
Darwen, Fleetwood,Netherfield and Preston will battle it out on what promises to be an interesting day of cricket.
It all get's underway at 11-00 am when hosts Netherfield play Preston in the first semi final clash.
The second semi final between Fleetwood and Darwen gets underway at 2-00 pm, with the final beginning at 5-00 pm
Twenty-20 Finals Day is always a special day in the Northern League calender, these days always attract alot of interest and more often than not there is plenty of good cricket played.
The finals have been won by different clubs over the past few years, with Fleetwood going into the 2013 finals campaign as the current holders of the TWP Wealth Twenty/20 crown
Here is a club by club run down of this years challengers
Netherfield Cricket Club: Captain: Marc Brown, Professional: Colin Ackermann
Twenty/20 RECENT HISTORY: Runners up in 2009, Twenty/20 winners in 2010, Semi Finalists in 2012.
Netherfield finished top of The North 1 Group after winning all 3 of their group games. They defeated Kendal in the opening group match by 2 runs, before beating both Barrow and Kendal at Parkside Road.
They have alot of experience at Twenty-20, winning the competition in 2010, they were also runners up in 2009, and bowed out in the semi finals last season.
Netherfield's route to the finals:
Friday 31st May
Kendal v Netherfield
Kendal 83, Netherfield 85 - 9 (Craig Walmsley 28).
Netherfield won by 2 runs
Friday 7th June
Netherfield v Barrow
Netherfield 127 - 9 (Colin Ackermann (51) and 3-11, Craig Walmsley (41),), Barrow 117 (Nathan Chambers 3-16) Netherfield won by 10 runs
Friday 21st June
Netherfield v Kendal
Netherfield 129 - 5 (Ben Barrow 53, Craig Walmsley 38), Kendal 72 (Greg Hall 3-17)
(Netherfield won by 57 runs
Netherfield aiming for glory |
Preston Cricket Club: Captain: Sajid Patel, Professional Soaib Dukanwala
Twenty/20 RECENT HISTORY: Twenty/20 Winners in 2009, Semi Finalists in 2010
Preston qualified from The North two group on run rate after finishing level on points with Lancaster and Morecambe. However a run rate of 6.21 compared to Lancaster's 6.00 and Morecambes's 5.436 saw them qualify.
The team from West Cliff suffered mixed group results, defeating Morecambe by fewer wickets, and Lancaster by 74 runs.
However they lost to both Morecambe and Lancaster in the reverse fixtures
Preston won the Twenty/20 competition in 2009 ironically at Netherfield, however they missed out in 2010 as the hosts losing to Blackpool in the semi final.
The Preston squad of 2013 is different to previous sides. They are captained by Sajid Patel and have Soyeb Dukanwala as their Professional.
Preston's route to the finals:
Tuesday 4th June
Morecambe v Preston:
Morecambe 142 -5, Preston 142 - 2 (Soyeb Dukanwala 58no, Ben Harrison 36)
Preston won by losing fewer wickets.
Wednesday 19th June
Preston v Morecambe:
Morecambe 108 - 5 (Shabnan Ali 2-28), Preston 44
Morecambe won by 64 runs
Monday 24th June
Preston v Lancaster
Preston 55 - 3 (Soyeb Dukanwala 74no). Lancaster 141 - 8 (Soyeb Dukanwala 3-25)
Preston won by 14 runs
Sunday 30th June
Lancaster v Preston
Preston 125 (Sajid Patel 29), Lancaster 126 - 6
Lancaster won by 4 wickets
Ben Harrison and Preston looking to cause a Twent/20 upset |
Fleetwood Cricket Club: Captain: Mat Clark, Professional: Ian Holland
Twenty/20 RECENT HISTORY: Winners 2012
Defending TWP Wealth Twenty-20 Champions Fleetwood go into Finals Day with a 100% record winning all 4 of their group matches.
Fleetwood won the TWP Wealth Twenty/20 competition last season on their home turf defeating Lancaster in the final
Mat Clarks team got off to a slow start to the season but have since pushed themselves into contention for the league and go into Finals Day as one of the favourites for the crown
Fleetwood's route to the final
Thursday 23rd May
Blackpool v Fleetwood
Blackpool 114 - 6, Fleetwood 116 - 8 (Naveed Yousaf 44)
Fleetwood won by 2 wickets
Thursday 6th June
Fleetwood v St Annes
St Annes 133 - 7 (Joe Bell 3-37), Fleetwood 137 - 1 (Adam Parker 60no, Ian Holland 35no)
Fleetwood won by 9 wickets
Thursday 20th June
St Annes v Fleetwood
Fleetwood 119 - 9 (Adam Shorrocks 41), St Annes 71 (Kieran MCGann 5-16)
Fleetwood won by 48 runs
Wednesday 26th June>
Fleetwood v Blackpool
Blackpool 118 - 9 (Naveed Yousaf 4-16), Fleetwood 119 - 4 (Adam Parker 36, Adam Sharrocks 35no, Mat Clark 24no partnership of 60
(Fleetwood won by 6 wickets
Darwen Cricket Club: Captain: Jordan Clarke, Professional: Alan Kruger
Twenty/20 RECENT HISTORY: Runners up 2011
Darwen make the Twenty-20 Finals after a fairly smooth passage through the South 2 group.
The team from Birch Hall only lost once in the group, losing to Leyland. Their form in this competition has been better than that of their league form.
They may be seen as underdogs but with players such as John Cordingley, Ammer Mirza and Alan Kruger they will be a threat in the competition.
Darwen's route to the final
Friday 24th May
Chorley v Darwen
Darwen 99 - 8 (John Cordingley 58), Chorley 62 (Neil Cordingley 3-5 Alan Kruger 3-8)
Darwen won by 37 runs
Friday 31st May
Darwen v Leyland
Leyland 162 - 4, Darwen 112 (Alan Kruger 38)
Leyland won by 60 runs
Tuesday 18th June
Leyland v Darwen
Darwen 143 - 5 (John Cordingley 51), Leyland 105 - 7 (Nathan Jackson 3-24)
Darwen won by 37 runs
Friday 21st June
Darwen v Chorley
Darwen 141 (Jordan Clarke 72, John Cordingley 47), Chorley 113 (John Cordingley 4-25)
Darwen won by 28 runs
John Cordingley's men looking to shine for Darwen in Twenty/20 Finals |
