TOM Sillett’s direct hit in a bowl-out booked Battisford’s place in the final of this year’s James Grigg Twenty20 competition.

While the Bank Holiday weather meant Worlingworth’s ground was unfit to host the round-robin involving the hosts, Stradbroke and last year’s winners Walsham-le-Willows, Battisford were more fortunate.

They were able to stage a full day’s play in their group with Stowupland and Brantham.

Even with calculations rivaling Duckworth/Lewis in case each team won one match, Stowupland, Brantham and the hosts decided that a bowl-out would decide who qualified for the final should this happen, which it duly did.

The excitement heightened as spectators were allowed on the field to witness events. Five bowlers from each side bowled two deliveries. Battisford and Stowupland hit three times, while Brantham only hit the stumps twice, so were eliminated.

So it came down to sudden death and Sillett, with the only direct hit, put Battisford into the final.

As to who they play, there is much naval gazing and head scratching as Worlingworth, Stradbroke and Walsham-le-Willows try to fit their matches into their existing fixture list.

The final is on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, weather permitting, of a competition set up in memory of James Grigg, the 21-year-old Stradbroke player who was killed while serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Anglians in March 2010.

The competition was organised with the express idea of raising funds for the James Grigg Youth Cricket Trust, set up at his request, to support youth cricket in Stradbroke and the surrounding area.

A total of �800 was raised last year from three preliminary rounds and finals day.