Norton in Hales sprung a surprise to book their place in the Vince Lindo Twenty20 Cup finals day. The NSSCL Premier B side won at Premier A outfit Stone SP to push themselves one step closer to silverware glory. It was hosts Stone SP who batted first in Friday night’s quarter-final and they managed to amass 129 all out.
Sam Graham (34) and Joey Sharp (22) made the biggest contributions with the bat, while there were a couple of wickets apiece for Jack Furnival, Anthony Sheeran and Rameez Aziz. That target never troubled Norton in Hales – who have yet to hit top form in the league – and they eased to an eight-wicket triumph with three-and-a-half overs to spare. It was a solid batting effort from the Tractor Boys as Furnival (33), Aaron Thomason (32), Dane Tinsley (26no) and Aziz (25no) all chipped into the successful chase.
Norton in Hales will be joined at finals day – on a date to be confirmed – by three Premier A sides as Cheadle, Checkley and Porthill Park all progressed. Cheadle had an easy evening as they defeated fellow top-flight side Bagnall Norton in clinical fashion. A third-wicket stand of 95 between Andy Coxon and Austen Crump enabled Cheadle to reach 183-6 from their allocation.
Coxon hit six fours and one six in his 60, while Crump’s 52 featured six boundaries and two maximums. Matthew Sellers (27) and Johnathan Clowes (24) also played their part. Scott Winnington and Imraan Manack shared four of the wickets to fall.
Josh Cartledge top-scored with 27.