IF SUNDAY’S second Sykes Cup semi-final between Delph and Elland can match the drama of the first, then supporters will be in for a treat.
Skelmanthorpe, of course, are already through to the showpiece on August 8, having hammered 24 to win off the last over of a pulsating last-four tie with Scholes.
Bedroom windows and solar panels were smashed in the process as Sarfraz Ahmed’s Skelmanthorpe won a titanic battle against the Drakes champions – and Sunday’s clash at Huddersfield Road could be just as explosive.
It seems unlikely Delph & Dobcross will have Lancashire’s Kyle Hogg in their side, but they still have a dangerous line-up including Irfan Zahoor, Bruce Cruse, Faisal Butt and excellent all-rounder Bilal Khiljee.
Arron Lilley’s bowling could also be a factor, but he is fresh from a 48-ball century with the bat in the Romida Twenty/20, so Elland will have to be wary of him.
The visitors, meanwhile, have Cup pedigree aplenty, and the likes of Lee Baxter, Ryan Robinson and James Thornton have seen it all and done it all before.
But they were drubbed by Delph in the Premiership at the same venue only last Saturday and will be keen to make amends.
In that match, Khiljee’s 119 not out was the backbone for an imposing home total of 271-6 – Thornton taking three for 63 with his left-arm spin – and then Delph bowled superbly to dismiss Elland for just 148.
Thornton was top scorer with 40 while new signing Matt Norvall and Khiljee had three wickets apiece and Butt chipped in with two.
