4:45pm Monday 7th September 2009
By Mercury sports reporter
Cockspur Rum National Twenty20 Cup area finals day, Bridgwater Red Sox v St Just
POWERFUL Cornish champions St Just were inserted by the Red Sox and got off to a flying start.
Neil Currow and Dave Roberts – both regular players for Cornwall in the Minor Countries Championship – put on 47 in the first six overs, only losing Roberts (29) to an excellent catch at the wicket by Stu Standerwick off Chris Skidmore.
But it was Mike Coles' turn to star with the ball, as his four overs returned 3-16 aided by stunning catches by Andy Hallaran, Mitch Windsor and again Standerwick.
St Just were in some trouble at 95-7 in the 15th over but as ever in this form of the game, plenty can happen, as Joe Semmens (30) and Mark Harvey (21 not out) played their shots, to lift their team to 142-8 off their 20 overs, a very useful total.
The Red Sox knew they had to bat steadily and get as close as possible; this they proceeded to do but unfortunately they lost wickets steadily as well.
With the score on 66-5 in the 11th over, the Red Sox were in some trouble but Josh Vickery and Andy Skidmore added a quick 30 to settle the home crowd’s nerves.
Skidmore carried on his excellent form of late to finish on a pugnacious 42 not out (four fours, two sixes) to see his side to 130-8 off their 20 overs and progress to the Regional Final, due to their superior net run rate.
Match Scores: St Just 142-8 (20 overs) – J. Semmens, D. Roberts 29, G. Edwards 16, Mike Coles 3-16, Steve Davies 2-25, Chris Skidmore 2-31, Ian Hughes 1-24.
Red Sox 130-8 (20 overs) – Andy Skidmore 42no, Andy Hallaran 14, Stu Butt 13, Mike Coles 10. St Just won by 12 runs.
The winners of Sunday’s regional final between Bridgwater and Bournemouth at The Parks will be the Champions of the South-West and Wales and will represent this huge region in the Cockspur Rum National Finals Day at Derbyshire CCC on Monday, September 28.
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