Lilleshall Cricket Club are through to the final of the Shropshire League Twenty20 Knockout for the first time in 29 years.
The Church Road men beat Knockin by eight wickets on Tuesday night to reach the showpiece final. Lilleshall will now face either Wroxeter or Frankton on Monday, August 30, with the venue still to be decided.
The match was reduced to 15 overs and Knockin were all out for 94. Alex Russell was in fine form with 5-25, while Rob Bagshaw finished with 3-15 and Adam Copsey 2-18.
Lilleshall lost an early wicket but Andy Lloyd (25) helped steady the ship with Dave Marshall (39no), who played a conservative innings and kicked on at the right moments.
He was helped by the returning Paul Bainbridge who, despite an injury to his leg, made 20 not out.
It was Marshall who hit the winning runs in the 12th over to send Lilleshall to their first final since 1981.
The victory came after an agonising single wicket reverse against fellow top three contenders Cound in division one last Saturday.
Lilleshall were put in and lost early wickets. It was only the steady Kelvin Price (34) who managed to put an innings together as the bowling of Alex Johnson (2-6) and then Dan Wilson (2-6) ripped through the away side’s batting line-up.
Will Askin made the only other notable score of 18 as Lilleshall slumped to 113 all out in the 35th over.
With a low total, early wickets were desperately needed and when the in-form Graham Trow was sent back by Russell (1-31), wickets started to fall. Askin (4-30) once again bowled consistently, reducing the run rate.
Small totals were notched up by the Cound batsman with Farrell Younger-Waters top scoring with 28. But some quick, accurate bowling from David Bicknell (3-36) had the home side in trouble with only the tail remaining. It was left to the last pair to scramble the hosts over the finishing line.
Lilleshall entertain Montgomery tomorrow looking to force their way back into the promotion shake-up. Leading run scorer Bainbridge, vice-captain Richard Dakin and Chris Airey all return.
By Sean Wozencroft