New date for Cheshire as they chase Lord’s dream

Jul 10 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESHIRE’S postponed MCCA Knockout Trophy semi-final showdown with Minor Counties champions Devon will now be played on Sunday, July 29 at Chester Boughton Hall (11am start).

The two counties should have played on Sunday, July 1, but heavy rain meant a ball wasn’t bowled on that day or on the following Monday, set aside as a reserve day.

But both captains agreed that with a dream final at Lord’s at stake for the winner, every effort would be made to make sure the match was played rather than the result being decided by a toss of a coin or a bowl-out.

“Neither counties want to lose that way, we just want to play the match,” said Cheshire skipper Andy Hall.

“It’s really difficult at the moment because it’s rained so much and there’s not cricket being played, but hopefully we’ll get some good weather at the end of the month to get the game on.”

Indeed, and with many of Cheshire’s players having never played at the ‘Home of Cricket’, no wonder Hall and his county colleagues are keen to play.

“We’ve not lost in the Knockout Trophy this season and beat Devon in the Championship, so we are going into the match with a lot of confidence,” added Hall.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, but there’s still a lot of hard work left to do. We need another big performance to make sure we get to Lord’s.”

Hall starred for Bramhall, his club in 2001 when they won the National Cup at Lord’s and he admits playing in London was a special feeling, one which he is sure will be experienced by his team-mates if they can beat Devon for a second time this season.

“Devon will want some revenge for us beating them, we know that, but if we play well we’re very capable of beating them.”

Team manager Sandy Scrimgeour has yet to reveal his 13-man squad for the match, although it is believed to be the same players who were picked for the original fixture.

Cheshire 13-man squad (possible): Andy Hall, Matthew Dawson (Bramhall); Danny Leech, Chris Bassano, Ben Spendlove, Nathan Dumelow, Guy Emmett (Oulton Park); James Duffy, Danny Woods (Hyde); Adam Syddall (Bowdon); Chris Finegan (Neston); Ismail Dawood (Urmston); Jason Whittaker (Wishaw). 12th man: Chris Davies (Oxton).