NEW BRIGHTON have reached the area finals of the ECB Club t20 competition after overcoming Bootle in an exciting conclusion to the LDCC finals day at Newton le Willows.
Four teams progressed through the preliminary rounds of the competition, with Sefton Park and Newton le Willows joining the two finalists for three games of exciting t20 cricket at Crow Lane.
In the first semi-final, 72 from Newton’s Mike Walkden, allowed the home side to reach 160 from their 20 overs, with Neil Cross the pick of the New Brighton bowlers with three for 33. New Brighton’s reply was based around an unbeaten knock of 63 from 50 balls, from opener Martyn Evans, as they reached the total in the eighteenth over.
Bootle had a far easier time against First Division Sefton Park, who they defeated at the same stage of the competition last year. Bootle batted first and scored 149 for eight, which looked gettable until Sefton lost early wickets, as they were eventually dismissed for just 62.
A large crowd witnessed an exciting final between the Premier Division rivals, with Bootle making 146 for five in their innings. Michael Gill (50) and Josh Hine (43) top scored for the Wadham Road side. New Brighton lost wickets regularly and with just one over left and seven men down, still needed 19 runs off the last over. Some huge hitting followed as they won a dramatic game on the last ball of the day, to progress to the area finals on August 14.
Elsewhere Northern’s dream of advancing to the last eight of the ECB National Club Championship ended in a valiant defeat to Chester le Street.
73 from James Cole and some impressive tail end batting took the Crosby-based side to a respectable 200 for eight from their 45 overs.
Northern pushed the North East side hard and with the home team 187 for six, they lost three wickets for seven runs, to leave the last pair clinging on to clinch the match by just one wicket.
It was not all bad news for Northern, as Friday saw them secure a Liverpool Echo Knock Out Trophy semi-final place after beating Maghull by three wickets.
Meanwhile Ormskirk progressed to the semi-finals of the Bridging Finance Solutions Ray Digman Trophy, with a comfortable victory over Leigh.
An unbeaten half-century by captain Alex Roussak was the top score as Leigh were dismissed for just 129. In reply, Matty Glayzer smashed 12 boundaries on his way to a match winning score of 62, as Ormskirk reached the target for the loss of five wickets.
