SUFFOLK will face an unbeaten Cheshire side when they play at Lord's on Monday, August 27 in the final of the Minor Counties Knock-Out Cup.Cheshire pipped Devon by 12 runs in an exciting delayed semi-final at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club on Sunday.

By Elvin King

SUFFOLK will face an unbeaten Cheshire side when they play at Lord's on Monday, August 27 in the final of the Minor Counties Knock-Out Cup.

Cheshire pipped Devon by 12 runs in an exciting delayed semi-final at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club on Sunday.

Cheshire, who drew with Suffolk at Ransomes Sports Ground, Ipswich in the 2005 Minor Counties Championship play-off final when they included Chris Schofield, posted an imposing 270 for seven.

All-rounder Nathan Dumelow crashed 90 runs from just 74 balls, including five sixes and nine fours. His former Derbyshire team mate Chris Bassano (48) and ex-Yorkshire batsman Ismail Dawood (45) also starred with the willow.

Bassano - who shared a valuable opening stand of 55 with Danny Leech - hit one six and six fours in his 60-ball innings, while Dawood hit six fours in his important 65-ball knock.

In reply, Devon, the defending Minor Counties champions, were 123 for three at the halfway stage, but recovered to 219 for seven before skipper Dumelow (four for 56) and seamer Adam Syddall (four for 36) saw them dismissed for 258 with one ball remaining.“Suffolk are a strong side, but we're playing good cricket,” said Cheshire team manager Sandy Scrimgeour.

“I hope our 2007 winning run continues, but we can't afford to get carried away. There's still a lot of hard work left to do.

“I'm delighted for all the lads. It was a great performance, all the players can't wait to play at Lord's.”

Cheshire team: Nathan Dumelow, Danny Leech, Chris Bassano, Ben Spendlove, James Duffy, Danny Woods, Jason Whittaker, Adam Syddall, Chris Finegan, Ismail Dawood, Matthew Dawson. 12th man: Chris Davies.