NWCL Birchall Cup – Sunday 8th September 2024
By Bill Slinger
The Third Team 20/20 Finals Day playing for the Birchall Cup took place at Baxenden CC on Sunday.
Despite overnight and early morning rain and drizzle, thanks to the covers and work of the Baxenden Ground Staff the First Semi-Final between Holders Earby and Padiham started on time at 10am.
Padiham won the toss and elected to field.
This looked to be a good decision as Earby were reduced to 14 for 3 and 23-4.
Alex Hall and Joe Swarbrick steadied the ship and took the score to 62 before Swarbrick was run out for 20. Hall was then joined by Thomas Chapman and they put on 51 for the 6th wicket, Chapman making a valuable 25 and Hall going to an unbeaten 50 in the last over.
A final score of 119-6 looked likely to be a challenge in difficult and wet conditions.
The weather took a turn for the better as the Padiham reply started. Openers Joseph Edgar and Cameron Thorne made a slow but steady start against some very accurate bowling and excellent fielding in difficult conditions. They put on 35 for the first wicket when Thorne was out for 16 with the score on 35. Liam Simm joined Edgar increased the innings tempo making 26 off 23 deliveries. Edgar was eventually out for 35 as the required rate increased.
In a frantic climax, in the increasing rain, 11 were required off the last over. This was reduced to one to tie and two to win with one ball left. The ball was a wide but in the confusion, the batsman was run out, leaving the scores tied but Padiham having lost more wickets. However, the last ball was hit out of the ground to give Padiham the victory and a place in the Final.
Unfortunately the rain that had impacted the latter overs of the Earby/Padiham match continued and increased so that surface water appeared on the square and outfield making no further play possible.
The Semi-Final and Final will take place at Read on Sunday 22nd September, starting at 10am and 2pm respectfully.
