Norden beaten at Bramhall in ECB National Club T20

Norden's hopes were dashed somewhat before a ball was delivered, as four of the team which won the area final were unavailable due to holidays or work commitments – captain Simon North, Dexter Fitton, Harvey Fitton, and Martin Smith.

With professional Michael Price and overseas amateur Nick Fairchild already ruled out due to competition rules it meant Norden took the field with only two of their usual front-line bowlers – Chris Hartley and Hashum Malik.

Squad players were drafted in to fill the gaps, including Phil Collinson who made a rare appearance.

Those who played can be pleased with their performances against the odds, and club chairman John Murphy said: “The lads did all that they could and they were certainly not disgraced. I was very proud of them as they fought on in true Stags’ tradition.”

Collinson gave Norden a good start when he ran along the boundary edge to take low a catch which saw off Ashley West for 14.

Three runs later the big-hitting Iftikhar Naseer was clean bowled by Hartley, but the face of the game quickly changed as Danny Lamb and Matty Hughes piled on the runs to make it 70 after seven and 92 after eight.

Lamb, due to make his debut for Lancashire this week, had one escape when dropped, but he finally went for 79, caught by Steve Pimm, with the total on 127.

Hughes went on to score 61, but he lost several partners before he was last out in the penultimate over of the innings.

Adam Wylde was caught by Steve Pimm, Nick Cantello was caught by Ash Gowers, Chris Sanders was caught by Ross Collin, Ruaridh Patel went the same way, and Hughes was bowled by Malik.

Norden's reply never really got going.

Nick Brierley was caught for 19 with the total on 39, and after scoring 32 Malik fell to a juggling catch by Naseer.

Gowers, Pimm and Jack Harrison went in the space of 12 runs, Greg Tattersall and Jay Collin went cheaply and Stags were 104 for seven.

Collinson was last out, with the board showing 110, and it was case of Start the Rolls.
Rehan Udwadia (25) and Ross Collin (9) saw out the overs which ended with Stags on 129 for eight.

Lamb was named as player of the match, and Bramhall now go on to the national finals day at Derby.

It will be interesting to see how they do against a full strength team.

Bramhall

D Lamb c Pimm b J Collin 79
A West c Collinson b Malik 14
I Naseer b Hartley 1
M Hughes b Malik 61
A Wylde c Pimm b J Collin 7
N Cantello c Gowers b Hartley 7
C Sanders c R Collin b Hartley 1
R Patel c R Collin b Malik 0
S Johnson not out 1
R Kitzinger not out 3
Extras 12
Total (for 8 wkts) 186
Bowling: Malik 4-0-33-3; Hartley 4-0-24-3; Udwadia 4-0-48-0; J Collin 4-0-40-2; Pimm 4-0-39-0.

Norden

H Malik c Naseer b West 32
N Brierley c Wilkinson b Sanders 19
A Gowers c Sanders b West 19
S Pimm c Johnson b West 8
R Udwadia not out 25
J Harrison st Johnson b Naseer 2
G Tattersall c Wilkinson b Sanders 4
J Collin c Johnson b Sanders 0
P Collinson st Johnson b Naseer 4
R Collin not out 9
Extras 7
Total (for 8 wkts) 129
Bowling: Lamb 4-0-13-0; Sanders 4-0-30-3; Kitzinger 2-0-23-0; Wilkinson 3-0-18-0; West 3-0-23-3; Naseer 4-0-21-2.