Cheshire make T20 Finals after double win at Northumberland

Game 1: Northumberland 139-5 (20 overs), Cheshire 142-0 (15.1 overs). Cheshire won by 10 wickets Scorecard

Game 2: Northumberland 184-1 (20 overs), Cheshire 189-2 (18.4 overs). Cheshire won by 8 wickets Scorecard

NCCA T20 Group 1 Table

Cheshire will join Cambridgeshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire for T20 Final's Day at Tring CC on Sunday 22 May after taking a maximum four points from two wins over Northumberland...

If Staffordshire's heroics at Cumbria caused any Cheshire nerves, they didn't show as two outstanding batting displays from the top order and disciplined bowling led Nick Anderson's side home.

Northumberland won both tosses and batted first in each game, restricted to 139-5 first time round with John Oswell top scoring with 53 and Anderson taking 3-25.

Rob Sehmi - fresh from an unbeaten club 128* the day before - then made 86* and Sam Perry 51*, the pair rotating well to force a comfortable 10 wicket win.

News that Staffordshire had dramatically overturned Cheshire's net run-rate advantage by overhauling  Cumbria's 107 from just 7.4 overs then meant that Cheshire maintained their two point advantage but needed to win to ensure no NRR calculaitons would be involved.

And with Northumberland plundering an impressive 184-1 in game two, there was work to do. Alasdair Appleby led the way with a fine 102* and Oswell 45.

ISehmi and Perry once gain showed their class and composure in the Cheshire reply. Perry - on field for the entire two games - struck 63* and Sehmi 53. Harry Dearden added 26 and Will Evans hit a lively 36* to ensure the win and qualification. This against more Staffordshire heroics - a ninth wicket partnership taking them to an unlikely win.

An entertaining and rewarding day at the superbly appointed Gosforth club and Cheshire can look forward to a day at Tring on 22 May. We'll provide details when we have them.