Lostock have been there and done it before when it comes to T20 Finals Days – but this Sunday they are hoping to finally get over the line and buy the T-shirt! 

Lostock’s Chew Moor Lane home will play host to the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Birtwistle Cup Finals Day, and James Evans’ side are involved.

After Blackrod and Whalley play the first semi-final at 10.30am, Lostock face Ribblesdale Wanderers at 1pm before the 4.30pm final.

Though they have never hosted such an occasion, Lostock are no strangers to this showpiece day. In 2018, 2019 and 2021, under the guise of the Bolton League, they reached the final and were beaten each time by Horwich.

Despite their current poor league form, it should therefore be no surprise that they have made it this far. They topped their group with three wins from five games and beat Kearsley by three wickets chasing 115 late last month.

In the league, they are battling against relegation in the Premiership, though did boost confidence with a third win in 12 games on Saturday just gone – at home to bottom side Astley Bridge by 18 runs. Defending 115-8, they bowled Bridge out for 97. 

“The T20s have definitely been a bit of a shining light this summer,” said captain Evans.

“There have been a couple of games we shouldn’t have won but we’ve found a way. That’s been the opposite to the league, where we’ve been finding ways to lose.

“It’s been a bit of a weird one. We’ve struggled a lot with availability in the league. Lads have gone on holiday, which is absolutely fine, but we’ve struggled with injuries as well.

“Every single week, we’ve had three or four missing.

“We’ve been giving the young lads a go. 

“We’re doing two aspects well, but then letting ourselves down with the third, whether that’s scoring the runs, taking wickets or fielding.

“We’ve also been on the wrong end of a couple of really good bowling performances and innings where you think, ‘What are we supposed to do?'”

Evans is not looking too deeply into Lostock’s league struggles, quite rightly pointing out: “We were in a similar situation last year around this time and came second.

“A lot of people may see us as a bit like the whipping boys in the league, but you don’t become a bad team overnight. We’re still backing ourselves to turn it around.”

The shining lights for Lostock in the T20s are Pakistani top order batting professional Muhammed Suleman with two fifties in a 256-run haul from six matches and bowlers young and experienced Reece Gray and Rob Holgate, who have each taken four wickets.

“The young lads who we’ve played have come in and done well,” said Evans.

“In the league, the pro’s got himself set quite regularly and then found different ways to get out. He’s so nice to watch, and then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘What’s happened there?’

“In the T20s, he’s not looked like getting out. 

“He hits the ball so clean, and he certainly makes the most of that powerplay. 

“But a lot of the lads have chipped in around him. It’s been a bit of a team effort based around the pro.”

The three matches across the day could well be played across two pitches at a venue which is well set up for such an occasion given the space it has available under the shadow of the M61.

“It’s a bit of the unknown because we’ve never done it before,” said batting all-rounder Evans. 

“We’re excited by it, and there will be some good revenue for the club. 

“Having been to a few finals, it’s nice to finally host one. We’re just praying for some nice weather. We’re planning to have a few pop up bars and plenty of catering. If we could get anywhere around 1,000 people, that would be lovely.

“There will be a lot of people there watching, and let’s go and show people what we can do. 

“We’re there because we deserve to be there. There are some lads who have been to Finals Days before, but we also have some who are experiencing it for the first time.

“I’ve said to the lads, ‘You don’t get to these occasions every year, just go out and enjoy it’.”

Lostock will be facing a Ribblesdale side who also won their group with three wins from five games. 

Wanderers have employed exciting South African batter Jordan Hermann as their sub professional for the day, as they did earlier in the competition.

He has been billed as a future Proteas international and scored a blistering century for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in January. 

He opened the batting with Dawid Malan that day and prospered against an MI Cape Town bowling attack including Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone and Kieron Pollard.

South Africa legend Allan Donald has said of him: “You’re talking about a guy who can get close to AB de Villers or to Maxwell.”

He has been playing his regular league cricket for Denton West this summer.

Dave Flanagan’s 136 not out against Moorside from the Greater Manchester League in the Area Semi Final in 2018 is still one of the highest individual scores in the National stages of the competition

Ribblesdale Wanderers have signed emerging South African batting star Jordan Hermann as their substitute professional for Sunday’s Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Birtwistle Cup T20 Finals Day at Lostock, with captain Mack Spencer describing him as a “special cricketer”.

More than that, earlier this year, Proteas legend Allan Donald said of the 22-year-old left-handed opener: “You’re talking about a guy who can get close to AB de Villers or to Maxwell.”

Safe to say, if you have a spare day on your hands this weekend, it may well be worth getting down to Chew Moor Lane to watch a potential star of the future, who has been playing regular league cricket this summer for Denton West.

In January, whilst opening the batting with England’s Dawid Malan in the SAT20 competition, he smashed a sparkling hundred for Sunrisers Eastern Cape against an MI Cape Town bowling attack including Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone and Kieron Pollard.

“Jordan’s got so much time, and I’d pay to watch him bat,” said Ribb skipper Spencer, who was helped with the signing by mutual friend Matthew Breetzke, the current South Africa international

“We’ve had Jordan twice already, and you can tell by the way he strikes the ball that he’s a special talent. 

“I’m sure he will play for South Africa – you’d think he’ll debut in the next year or so – and have a great career. 

“He’s a special cricketer and a top guy. He’s very humble.”

Wanderers play hosts Lostock in the second semi-final on Sunday at 1pm after Blackrod face Whalley at 10.30am. The final is at 4.30pm.

Spencer and company finished top of their T20 group with three wins from  the five games, bowling sides out for 76 and 79 along the way. They then beat Cherry Tree in the quarter-final on the back of an imposing total of 165-6.

It has come off the back of a difficult start to the season in the Premiership. 

They sit second-bottom in the table with two wins from 12 and are battling against relegation. Their two wins, however, have come in the last four rounds. 

Their professional situation certainly hasn’t helped, with Michael Erlank having returned to South Africa in mid-June due to domestic commitments with the KwaZulu-Natal Inland side that he captains.

“We’ve not had much luck with that,” said Spencer. 

“Our original overseas amateur also went home injured before the start of the season, and we were scrambling to get Kevon Beckles in at the last minute.

“But, to be fair, we’ve landed on our feet with a few of the pros, Jordan, Ockie Erasmus, Jacques Snyman and Anuk Fernando. They’ve all been brilliant for us.

“Playing on a Friday night has helped us pick up a bit of form. 

You feel like you’re not as rusty going into the Saturday. That’s certainly been the case for me, personally, anyway.

“At the start of the season, we were always competing in games. We’d bowl well or bat well and just not do the other.

“As a bowling unit in the T20s, we’ve bowled very well. Our attack has good skills. They can take the pace off when needed and things like that. 

“Ian and Jordan Britcliffe, whoever the pro’s been, and the young lads in Joel Blackledge, Michael Worthy and George Kerr, our young spinner. They’ve all bowled well.

“We’ve built a bit of momentum recently, and a few players have got some confidence back with the bat, especially. That’s including myself. I’ve not scored big runs, don’t get me wrong, but I haven’t felt like a walking wicket like I did for a while.

“That confidence has been good to see.”

Wanderers were Ribblesdale League T20 champions in 2021. 

If they are to win a second title in four seasons, they will have to get beyond a Lostock side who also topped their group with three wins from five games.

“We played Lostock a couple of weeks in the league,” said Spencer, who is looking forward to a memorable day.

 We got the better of conditions that day, but they look a well-drilled side. We’ve never played them in T20s. It will be a tough game, but we’re confident.

“They’re great days, the Finals Days. There’s a great vibe about them. Everyone wants to win and have fun.