Old Hill's national title bid ends with regional final defeat

The Haden Hill outfit were just one win away from reaching next month’s showpiece final of the ECB National Club T20, after a thrilling last-ball win over Nottinghamshire Premier League side Hucknall in the competition’s last-eight.

But they found Bradford Premier League champions New Farnley too strong in the regional final, going down to an eight-wicket defeat as their impressive run in the competition came to a disappointing finish.

Old Hill, who had already won six matches to reach the last-eight stage, took a coachload of supporters to Denby CC in Derbyshire for regional finals day.

Hopes of reprising the glory days of the 1980s and 90s, when the club were four times winners of the National Knockout tournament, remained high after a nail-biting win over Hucknall.

Chasing just 109 to win, Old Hill slumped to 88-8 and still needed 11 runs heading into the final over.

That equation became five off the final ball with Shan Masood sealing a dramatic victory by hitting Jake Wright for six. Masood finished unbeaten on 28 off 24 balls.

Momentum from the win appeared to have carried into the final when opener Waqas Ahmed hit 52 from 42 balls.

But he lacked support and from 81-3, the innings rather fizzled with Old Hill bowled out for just 129.

Aamir Manzoor took two early wickets as New Farnley began their reply but Ryan McKendry then smashed 75 from just 42 balls to see them home comfortably with four overs to spare.