Cheshire close to upsetting Lashings

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC press officer 07813 859986)

NATHAN 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 the former Derbyshire ace'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 Cricket Club in Telford.

Three Minor Counties sides and Lashings took part in this year's specially-arranged one-day competition, with hosts Shropshire and Staffordshire also involved.

Having drawn Lashings - the 'world's most famous cricket club', made up of a host if international stars - Cheshire quickly rose to the challenge of trying to upset their opponents.

And thanks to early wickets had Lashings reeling at 15-4. The scoreline should have been 22-5 when former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns was dropped off spinner Danny Woods.

That dropped catch proved costly as Cairns went on to smash an exhilarating 78 from just 46 balls, an innings which included 7 sixes and 5 fours.

However, former first class all-rounder Dumelow then sparkled with the ball, dismissing Cairns, former Pakistan international Rashid Latif and then ex-Zimbabwe bowler Henry Olonga to claim his hat-trick and restrict Lashings to 122-9 from their allotted 20 overs.

Dumelow finished with an impressive 3-30 return, while former Hampshire and Lancashire 2nd XI left-arm bowler Adam Syddall was the pick of the bowlers with 3-4 from his four overs.

Chris Finegan (1-9), Guy Emmett (1-14), Woods (1-30) and Berry (0-31) also played their part with the ball.

In reply, Cheshire started in sparkling fashion, and reached 40-0 from 2.3 overs. Dumelow on fire with 3 sixes and 4 fours until Nantie Heywood, the former South African paceman, had him caught by ex-Aussie ace Greg Blewett.

Ben Spendlove hit 29 from 30 balls, but from 40-0 Cheshire stumbled to 99-7. In a frantic finish some good batting from Finegan and Syddall saw Cheshire need seven runs to win from the last over.

But despite their best efforts, Cheshire fell five runs short of victory.

This year's other semi-final saw Staffordshire (188-3) defeat Shropshire (92 all out) by 96 runs, before Lashings went on to be crowned champions after a dramatic last-ball win over Staffs.

Staffs batted first and posted a respectable 106-8 from their 20 overs, but Lashings held their nerve to win by five wickets after reaching 108-5.

Twenty-20 Resource Bank One-day finals:

Semi-finals: Lashings: 122-9, 20 overs (N Dumelow 3-30, A Syddall 3-4, C Cairns 78) Cheshire 118-7, 20 overs (N Dumelow 38, B Spendlove 29, N Hayward 3-11, C Cairns 2-25); Staffordshire 188-3 (P Wilshaw 49, K Barnett 47, G Snyman 61) Shropshire 92 all out (K Barnett 3-14).

Final: Staffordshire 106-8 (P Wilshaw 43) Lashings 108-5 (G Blewett 43, C Cairns 33 not out, K Barnett 2-24).