Alex breaks Herts to set up final clash with Berks
A YEAR ago Berkshire got the better of Lincolnshire over three days in the Unicorns Championship – now Lincs skipper Carl Wilson is eyeing revenge as the teams prepare to meet in the Trophy final.
Alex Willerton was the star of the show in the one-day semi-finals, taking 4-35 in 6.1 overs in a 76-run win over Hertfordshire in Harpenden.
That sets up a clash with Berkshire in a repeat of last season’s Unicorns Championship final where Berks took home the three-day title with a 28-run victory.
“We know they’re a good team,”Wilson said. “We played them in the three-day final last year so we know what they’re about.We will focus on our own game and make sure we do the right thing and hopefully go and win it.
“We have to ensure we go and enjoy it and play the way we have been playing all year.”
An 88-run partnership from openers John Tattersall (39) and Louis Kimber (49) helped Lincolnshire set 223 to win despite Ben Waring causing chaos as he took 7-41.
That looked like it might be a little short of par, but Hertfordshire’s response got off to a disastrous start as Willerton ripped through the top-order, and from 17-4, any chance of a win had all but evaporated.
Reece Hussain’s 52 was a lone effort for Herts as they were bowled out for 146 and wicketkeeper Wilson paid tribute to his side’s all-round performance in the semi-final.
He said: “We are delighted by the result. They are a good team. The pitch suited them, but we managed to do our roles correctly and make sure we stayed on top.
“Alex has been bowling well all year, but we knew that when we’re defending that sort of score we needed to take early wickets.
“He put the ball in the right area and he made them play shots early which led to the wickets, so it’s a great performance by him on the day.
“With the team we have this year we are strong in all areas and I really think we have the potential to go on and win it.”
In the other semi-final Berkshire defeated last season’s runners-up Staffordshire by 49 runs away at Longton, defending a similarly precarious total.
They were able to call on a sensational individual performance from Waqas Hussain who first plundered a half-century to help Berks to 213 before taking 4-27 with the ball.