ELLAND won a thriller of a Romida Twenty/20 semi-final at Delph & Dobcross, where more than 440 runs were scored, while Craig Ruscoe wrecked Hoylandswaine’s hopes of retaining the Trophy at Golcar.
Having lost in the semi-finals of the Sykes Cup at Delph, Elland went ‘over the tops’ without opener Lee Baxter – who was called away to work – clearly the underdogs, but made a terrific start as Greg Finn and Chris Cooper (39) put on 113 for the first wicket before the latter was run out for 39.
That started a mini collapse, as the visitors lost four wickets for 17 runs, including that of Finn for a brilliant 78, made from 40 deliveries and including eight fours and four sixes as they slumped to 130-4.
However, Greg Buckley (24) and then James Thornton (38) put on 64 for the fifth wicket to push Elland nearer the 200 mark and they finally closed on 221-8, with Warren Jones the most successful Delph bowler with three for 26 from his four overs.
Cooper gave Elland instant success when he removed opener Faisal Butt in the first over before Irfan Zahoor took the game to Elland with 44-ball knock, cracking nine fours and six sixes on his way to 89, before falling to Thornton with a skied catch (one of two) to Buckley.
As the score crept up, batsmen came and went but Zimbabwean Matt Norvall kept Delph in the hunt, although they needed 19 to win off the last over with two wickets in hand.
Norvall blasted a six and a four off Stuart Fletcher’s first two deliveries, and after a dot ball, smashed the fourth for another six, leaving just three to win off two balls.
Fletcher struck the decisive blow when Norvall hoisted his fifth delivery high into the Saddleworth sky only to see the safe hands of Buckley underneath the catch to dismiss the all-rounder for a marvellous 32-ball knock of 65, which contained seven sixes and two fours.
Stephen Broadbent clipped the last delivery to Fletcher’s son Craig, who fumbled it to fellow fielder Dominic Finn, who in turn quickly whipped in the return to run out the No10 attempting a second which would have tied the scores.
In the other semi, the match at Swallow Lane never really caught fire as holders Hoylandswaine were virtually dead and buried after being bowled out for just 101 by a very keen-looking Golcar side whose bowling and fielding was very tight throughout.
Leigh Kentish took three for 12 from four overs, while Will Hinchliffe and Craig Horner gave brilliant back-up with two wickets apiece for just a handful of runs, as only John Ashton (21) and second teamer Callum Lee (35) reached double figures for the Barnsley side, who needed to make early inroads into Golcar’s batting if they were to be in with a shout of making the final for the second year.
But opener Eddie Wilson and Ruscoe ensured it never happened as they put on 31 for the first wicket, before Wilson gave Hoylandswaine their only success in the sixth over.
Ruscoe (70 not out) then took complete control as he cut, pulled and drove to tremendous effect, hitting seven fours and four sixes in a 44-ball innings, putting on an undefeated 75 with Kentish (16no) to send Golcar into the final in style.
Ruscoe’s knock earned Golcar the right to stage Sunday’s final (2.00) at Swallow Lane, when they will tackle Elland.
Golcar 106-1 (C Ruscoe 70no) Hoylandswaine 101 (C Lee 35, L Kentish 3-12).
Delph & Dobcross 220 (I Zahoor 89, M Norvall 65; J Thornton 3-29) Elland 221-8 (G Finn 78, C Cooper 39, J Thornton 38; W Jones 3-26).
