T20 Finals Day – By Bill Slinger
By Bill Slinger
Despite heavy overnight rain, the work of the Padiham ground staff meant a prompt start looked on the cards, when Farnworth won the toss and elected to bat in the first semi-final against Barnoldswick.
However as the players and umpires took to the field the rain came delaying the start for over an hour. It was decided when the rain cleared to play each game over 18 overs in view of the likelihood of more rain in the early evening.
Farnworth got off to a poor start and were reduced to 21-3. Skipper Simon Booth 34 off 24 deliveries and Zafir Patel 42 added 65 for the 4th wicket to get them back in the match. Farnworth scrambled to 138-8 a total that looked under par for the conditions. Jonny Beech took 3-32 and Sajid khan 3-28.
In reply opener Jonny Beech made a quick-fire 37 in only 19 deliveries including 3 sixes. This got Barnoldswick ahead of the game and allowed them to control the innings, with a partnership of 71 for the 2nd wicket between M Mohshin 31 and Justin Gilliland who ended on 60 not out from 46 balls including 5 fours and 4 sixes as Barnoldswick ran out easy winners by 8 wickets with two overs to spare.
Little Lever v Padiham
In the 2nd semi final, Padiham won the toss and elected to field.
Little Lever lost opener Nipun Gaikwad early on but fellow opener Jake Wilde got the innings going with 24. The remainder of the innings was dominated by professional Jake Lehmann who made 78 off just 39 balls including 7 fours and 5 sixes, he got good support from Adam Carter with 24 as Little Lever set a stiff target of 173-7.
In reply openers Jonny Whitehead 59 from 41 balls including 7 fours and 3 sixes and Jack Edgar 32 added 83 for the 1st wicket and kept Padiham up with the required rate. However once they were parted the run rate started to climb and the new batsman were unable to keep up the momentum, Padiham ending on 135-8 and giving Little Lever a 38 run win. Adil Nisar took 4-23.
Final Little Lever v Barnoldswick
Barnoldswick won the toss and elected to field.
Opener Nipun Gaikwad dominated the early overs making 58 off just 28 deliveries. An unbeaten stand of 93 between Jake Lehmann 58 not out and Adil Nisar 42 took the Little Lever total to an imposing target of 186-2.
Barnoldswick again got a quick start from their openers Justin Gilliland 29 and Jonny Beech as they put on 48 for the 1st wicket. Beech was joined by M Mohshin and they took the score to 122-1. During this time the expected rain had started to fall and with the wet ball Barnoldswick looked favourites. However once they lost Beech for 44 and Mohshin for 41, the remaining batsman struggled in the difficult conditions and eventually came up short in the increasing rain by 27 runs ending on 159-8. Nipun Gaikwad adding to his earlier runs by taking 3-33.
League Chairman William Slinger made the presentation at the end of the match. He thanked Padiham for hosting the fixture and ensuring that the day was completed mainly due to the hard work of the Clubs ground staff. He thanked the Club for hosting the final and making everybody most welcome.
He went on to thank the Umpires, the scorers and the crowd for turning up to support the event in not the best of weather and for staying to the end despite the increasing rain.
He presented the 20/20 Cup to Little Lever Captain Josh Gent and the Man of the Match in the Final to Nipun Gaikwad for his match winning all-round performance.

Owen Deakin-Pickard Courtesy Clive Lawrence.





