Vitality ECB National Club T20 Area Final
Author: Darren Cullen
Date: 10/08/2022
Barnt Green v Longton
Current second placed BDPCL side Barnt Green took on Longton from the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Premier League in the day’s first semi-final. On a warm summer’s day, Smethwick welcomed a growing crowd who were expecting an exciting day of T20 cricket. There was not long to wait as former Worcestershire white ball batter Riki Wessels and Daniel Ball took full advantage of the power play, fast outfield and even paced wicket, powering Longton to 52 in the fifth over. Ball was first to go, bowled by Adam Hines, as he attempted to manufacture another boundary on the legside, but it was in the next over when the key wicket fell, as Wessels launched young seamer Jack Warner very high and straight, only to find the safe hands of overseas player Adam Amin on the long on boundary for a violent 23 from 12 balls. With the two danger men gone, Longton consolidated and worked the ball around well with Archie Doorbar being the only other main contributor with 26 from 21 balls, finally finishing on a respectable 152 for 9. Henry Marshall was the pick of the Barnt Green bowlers with an excellent spell of medium paced bowling, conceding only 18 from his four overs.
Jacques Banton and Adam Amin started positively but when both departed, caught on the rope, the game was in the balance at 49 for 2 in the sixth over. Red ball specialist Ben Chapman-Lilley then calmed the ‘home’ fans nerves before missing a straight one on 21. Former Smethwick ‘keeper Amrinder Brar and skipper Dom Harding then steered the ship home with an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 73, with Brar finishing on 67 not out as the Longton bowlers were unable to impose any control on the scoring. Barnt Green won by seven wickets with more than two overs to spare.
Alderley Edge vs Menai Bridge
In the other semi-final, Alderley Edge from the Cheshire County League proved too strong for Menai Bridge from the North Wales Premier League. Robbie Jones was the main contributor with 56 in a below par score of 129 for 8. Alderley Edge were never in danger and cruised to victory with more than two overs to spare with former Kidderminster and Barnt Green all-rounder Richard Wilkinson finishing the job with 34 not out.
The Final
Alderley Edge vs Barnt Green
The growing late afternoon crowd were anticipating a closely fought final as both teams were clear winners in their respective semi-finals. Barnt Green won the toss and, unexpectedly, chose to bat first on a dry, wearing surface. Adam Amin and Jacques Banton launched a brutal assault on the bowling from the off. Amin was particularly severe, hitting six maximums, most of them landing in the adjacent housing at the back of the ground. Banton was first to go for a pleasing 29 but the damage was already done with the powerplay returning an impressive 81 runs. Ben Chapman-Lilley kept Amin on strike with quick singles as the run rate remained at nine an over for the next eight overs before Amin finally fell in the 16th over for a startling 78 from only 46 balls. Alderley Edge threw in 28 extras which took Barnt Green’s final total to an imposing 194 for 4.
The reply started badly with Banton trapping Naylor in the third over, but Sam Perry from Durham MCCU, then began to gain momentum as he attempted to keep up with the climbing run rate. Perry managed to farm the strike, expertly, as he was the only Alderley Edge batter able to find the fence regularly. Only Wilkinson was able to show any support with 26, as Perry continued to find the boundary. Cheshire opener Perry finished unbeaten on 108 from 63 balls but the mountain was simply too steep to climb with Barnt Green only conceding five extras. Alderley Edge finished on a respectable 171, Banton easily the best of the bowlers with 2 for 17 from his four overs.
Next Stage
Barnt Green now travel to Derbyshire Premier League club Denby on 28th August to take on Woodhouse Grange from the Yorkshire Premier League North in the first semi final of the Northern Region Finals Day. The second semi final features Ockbrook & Borrowash from the host League and Netherfield from the Northern League with the winners of the two semi finals meeting later in the day in the Northern Regional Final. The winners of that match will go straight to the Final of the competition where they will meet the winners of the Southern Region Final at Wormsley on Sunday 11th September.
Current second placed BDPCL side Barnt Green took on Longton from the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Premier League in the day’s first semi-final. On a warm summer’s day, Smethwick welcomed a growing crowd who were expecting an exciting day of T20 cricket. There was not long to wait as former Worcestershire white ball batter Riki Wessels and Daniel Ball took full advantage of the power play, fast outfield and even paced wicket, powering Longton to 52 in the fifth over. Ball was first to go, bowled by Adam Hines, as he attempted to manufacture another boundary on the legside, but it was in the next over when the key wicket fell, as Wessels launched young seamer Jack Warner very high and straight, only to find the safe hands of overseas player Adam Amin on the long on boundary for a violent 23 from 12 balls. With the two danger men gone, Longton consolidated and worked the ball around well with Archie Doorbar being the only other main contributor with 26 from 21 balls, finally finishing on a respectable 152 for 9. Henry Marshall was the pick of the Barnt Green bowlers with an excellent spell of medium paced bowling, conceding only 18 from his four overs.
Jacques Banton and Adam Amin started positively but when both departed, caught on the rope, the game was in the balance at 49 for 2 in the sixth over. Red ball specialist Ben Chapman-Lilley then calmed the ‘home’ fans nerves before missing a straight one on 21. Former Smethwick ‘keeper Amrinder Brar and skipper Dom Harding then steered the ship home with an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 73, with Brar finishing on 67 not out as the Longton bowlers were unable to impose any control on the scoring. Barnt Green won by seven wickets with more than two overs to spare.
Alderley Edge vs Menai Bridge
In the other semi-final, Alderley Edge from the Cheshire County League proved too strong for Menai Bridge from the North Wales Premier League. Robbie Jones was the main contributor with 56 in a below par score of 129 for 8. Alderley Edge were never in danger and cruised to victory with more than two overs to spare with former Kidderminster and Barnt Green all-rounder Richard Wilkinson finishing the job with 34 not out.
The Final
Alderley Edge vs Barnt Green
The growing late afternoon crowd were anticipating a closely fought final as both teams were clear winners in their respective semi-finals. Barnt Green won the toss and, unexpectedly, chose to bat first on a dry, wearing surface. Adam Amin and Jacques Banton launched a brutal assault on the bowling from the off. Amin was particularly severe, hitting six maximums, most of them landing in the adjacent housing at the back of the ground. Banton was first to go for a pleasing 29 but the damage was already done with the powerplay returning an impressive 81 runs. Ben Chapman-Lilley kept Amin on strike with quick singles as the run rate remained at nine an over for the next eight overs before Amin finally fell in the 16th over for a startling 78 from only 46 balls. Alderley Edge threw in 28 extras which took Barnt Green’s final total to an imposing 194 for 4.
The reply started badly with Banton trapping Naylor in the third over, but Sam Perry from Durham MCCU, then began to gain momentum as he attempted to keep up with the climbing run rate. Perry managed to farm the strike, expertly, as he was the only Alderley Edge batter able to find the fence regularly. Only Wilkinson was able to show any support with 26, as Perry continued to find the boundary. Cheshire opener Perry finished unbeaten on 108 from 63 balls but the mountain was simply too steep to climb with Barnt Green only conceding five extras. Alderley Edge finished on a respectable 171, Banton easily the best of the bowlers with 2 for 17 from his four overs.
Next Stage
Barnt Green now travel to Derbyshire Premier League club Denby on 28th August to take on Woodhouse Grange from the Yorkshire Premier League North in the first semi final of the Northern Region Finals Day. The second semi final features Ockbrook & Borrowash from the host League and Netherfield from the Northern League with the winners of the two semi finals meeting later in the day in the Northern Regional Final. The winners of that match will go straight to the Final of the competition where they will meet the winners of the Southern Region Final at Wormsley on Sunday 11th September.