Norden through to regional round of ECB Natwest National Club T20

Norden are through to the regional round of the ECB Natwest National Club T20 following their success in the North West Area finals at Fleetwood on Sunday.

With other clubs having commitments Norden were invited to represent the Pennine League, and all was set for a nice day in the sunshine at the seaside.

The sunshine was Ok, but an extremely strong wind made it difficult out on the Broadwater pitch.

It had also proved difficult for the Norden players to reach the ground due to heavy traffic, miles and miles of tailbacks, and thousands heading for the Blackpool air show.

The start of their semi-final was delayed (umpires had been caught up in the snarl as well) and it was then out to face Bolton League side Westhoughton.

Westhoughton took first knock, and at one stage they looked set for a huge score. But they were gradually pegged back and finished on 164 for five.

Norden's reply started badly when Dexter Fitton charged, missed, and was stumped.

Hashum Malik and Simon North pushed on to provide a good base. Malik blasted 23 off one over which included three sixes and a four, but both he and North were out to catches with Norden still having a lot to do.

It was done, with only two balls of the 20 overs left, by Ash Gowers who was unbeaten on 49, and Harvey Fitton who was unbeaten on 31.

Opponents in the final were Fleetwood who had beaten Ormskirk in a tight morning semi-final.

Malik was caught off the first delivery, and North was bowled in the same over by Amor.

Fleetwood’s joy was unbridled, but for the rest of the innings they were chasing or retrieving as the bowling was mauled by Martin Smith (47), Ash Gowers (89 not out) and Rehan Udwadia 25.

Following the loss of Parker to a high return catch by Smith, Clarke and Bell pushed the score along, but Fleetwood were always falling further and further behind the required run rate.

Clarke was eventually bowled by Malik for 34, and Bell was leg before to Dexter Fitton for 26.

That was it. The umpires took the players off due to “unfavourable conditions” and within minutes it was pouring down.

After a short wait Norden were declared winners on run rate, and all that remained was to inch towards home as thousands came out of Blackpool.

Semi-Final

Westhoughton

D Naylor c and b Hartley 32
M Atherton st Gowers b D Fitton 41
O Newby b D Fitton 21
R Houghton c Gowers b D Fitton 8
I Pilkington c Harrison b J Collin 31
P Atherton not out 18
Extras 13
Total (for 5 wkts) 164
Bowling: Smith 3-0-32-0; Hartley 3-0-13-1; Malik 3-0-33-0; D Fitton 4-0-30-3; North 4-0-36-0; J Collin 3-0-19-1.

Norden

H Malik c Naylor b Honour 43
D Fitton run out 2
S North c M Atherton b Honour 27
A Gower sot out 49
H Fitton not out 31
Extras 16
Total (for 3 wkts) 168
Bowling: Hart 3-0-29-0; Newby 3.5-0-28-0; Blair 4-0-45-0; Honour 4-0-27-2; Naylor 3-0-24-0; Parker 2-0-15-0.

Final

Norden

H Malik c Wilson b Amor 0
S North b Amor 4
M Smith c Parker b Amor 47
A Gowers not out 89
H Fitton b Amor 0
R Udwadia run out 25
J Harrison not out 6
Extras 21
Total (for 5 wkts) 192
Bowling: Amor 4-0-23-4; Parker 4-0-36-0; Gregson 2-0-29-0; Ryder 2-0-26-0; Sharrocks 4-0-31-0; Wilkinson 4-0-36-0.

Fleetwood

A Parker c and b Smith 4
W Clarke b Malik 34
D Bell lbw D Fitton 26
T Wilson c Udwadia b North 16
A Sharrocks c Hartley b North 2
M Clarke not out 0
J Gregson not out 0
Extras 9
Total (for 5 wkts) 91 rsp
Bowling: Smith 3-0-19-1; Hartley 3-0-21-0; Malik 3-0-30-1; D Fitton 3-0-16-1; North 0.3-0-1-2

Norden will now face Bramhall in an away tie on 21 August.