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Cheshire win to secure a place at Lords’ final

Neil Goulding
1/ 8/2007

CHESHIRE are heading to Lords for this year's MCCA Knockout Trophy final after a thrilling semi-final victory against Devon.

Unbeaten all season, Cheshire snatched a 12-run victory at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club - and now meet Suffolk in this year's 50-over showcase on Monday, August 27.

Having won the toss and batted first, Cheshire posted an imposing 270-7 from their allotted overs.

All-rounder Nathan Dumelow starred with the bat, crashing 90 from just 74 balls, an innings which included five sixes and nine fours.

Former Derbyshire team Chris Bassano (48) and ex-Yorkshire batsman Ismail Dawood (45) also starred with the willow.

Bassano - who shared a valuable opening stand of 55 with Danny Leech - hit one six and six fours in his 60-ball innings, while Dawood hit six fours in his important 65-ball knock.

At 167-4 Cheshire still had plenty to do, but a fifth-wicket partnership of 90 runs between Dumelow and James Duffy took the hosts close to 250.

In reply Devon, the defending Minor Counties champions, were 123-3 at the halfway stage, but two quick wickets swung the game in Cheshire's favour as Devon stumbled to 167-6.

However, a seventh-wicket partnership of 52 between David Lye and Trevor Anning saw the visitors battle to 219-7.

But in a dramatic finish Dumelow (4-56) and seamer Adam Syddall (4-36) helped dismiss Devon for 258 with one ball remaining.

"I'm delighted for all the lads," beamed team manager Sandy Scrimgeour. "It was a great performance, all the players can't wait to play at Lords."

Cheshire shared the 2005 Minor Counties Championship title with Suffolk, their opponents in this year's showcase.

"Suffolk are a strong side, but we're playing good cricket. I hope the winning run continues, but we can't afford to get carried away. There's still a lot of hard work left to do," added Scrimgeour.

• DUMELOW grabbed a memorable hat-trick for Cheshire in an exciting semi-final clash with Lashings Cricket Club in this year's Twenty-20 Resource Bank finals.

But despite Dumelow's superb bowling and a quickfire 38 from just 18 balls, Cheshire narrowly missed out on a place in this year's showcase final at Wellington CC.

Cheshire restricted Lashings to 122-9 from their allotted 20 overs but despite their best efforts, fell five runs short of victory.

• CHESHIRE have named a provisional 12-man squad for their penultimate three-day Minor Counties Championship match away to Oxfordshire next week.

Captain Andy Hall has missed both of Cheshire's recent victories over Wiltshire and Devon because of a wrist injury.

But the Bramhall batsman is included in the squad and faces a late fitness test prior to the match.

Also included in Cheshire's 12-man squad is Bramhall's Matthew Dawson.