BARNT Green Cricket Club head to Wormsley this weekend in search of their first ever national title having reached the final of the prestigious Vitality Club T20 Cup competition.
The Birmingham League side sealed their place in the showpiece with victories over Yorkshire League winners Woodhouse Grange and Cumbrian League champions Netherfield.
Green bowled Woodhouse out for 110 in the North Regional semi-final to win by six wickets before then beating Netherfield by 76 runs, after restricting their opponents to 99-8, to advance to the national final.
And they will now face Hornchurch in the final at Wormsley Cricket Club (on the Sir Paul Getty Estate) having lost in their two previous national finals which were played in the 50-over format.
First team management representative Darren Cullen said: “It means a lot, this is the third national final that we’ve been in, in the last 20 years.
“We’ve got a long history of doing well in national competitions, this is our first T20 final, it means a lot to everybody.
“We’ve lost in both of the previous finals at Edgbaston and Lords, the big game was winning the Birmingham final – the Birmingham League is one of the strongest in the country.
“We’re going there to win it, we’re playing well at the moment, we’re going to be tough to beat, I wouldn’t say we’re favourites but we’re not too worried about who we are playing.
“Everybody appreciates all the support from the club as a whole, part of our strength is the togetherness of the group.
“It’s a great day for the players, supporters and families – anything can happen in T20 cricket.”
And Cullen singled out Adam Amin for praise after his stunning knock of 101 not out from just 56 balls was instrumental to Green clinching their place in the final.
Cullen added: “I have to mention one player in particular, our Australian overseas player Adam Amin, he’s very destructive.
“He’s had a big impact in the last two games and on our T20 season as a whole.”
The club lost in the 2003 and 2005 national 50-over finals against Saffron Walden and Horsham respectively making this their first national final in any format for 17 years.
Green have brought several high-profile players through their junior ranks including England international Tom Banton, Warwickshire player Matt Lamb and Worcestershire’s Ed Pollock.
And the club currently sit second in the Birmingham Premier League Division One league table with two matches left to play.
The final takes place on Sunday, September 11 at Wormsley Cricket Ground with the game set to begin at 2.45pm.
