Lancaster to host festival of cricket with Twenty20 finals

Lune Road is the venue for Twenty20 finals day where the hosts will line up against Netherfield and two other teams to be confirmed for the right to be crowned 2015 champions.

Two semi-finals and the final will be played with captain Ben Simm, whose side are known as the LPNM Lunesiders in the competition, hoping it will be a memorable occasion.

The off-spinner said: “These are the sort of days you want to play in.

“Hopefully it will be a bumper crowd on the ground I’ve grown up on.

“We’re desperate to win and really excited.

“It’s been a long week already and there’s still a few days before the finals.”

Lancaster and Netherfield meet in the first last four encounter at 11am with the second semi-final at 2pm and the final at 5pm.

The teams in the other semi-final are currently up in the air with finals day clashing with Lancashire Knockout ties for both Blackpool and Darwen, who have qualified as group winners. 
Simm’s side will be concentrating on facing the Cumbrians however having lost to them at the same stage 12 months ago.

He said: “Netherfield have a fantastic record in the Twenty20.

“They’ve won something like 19 of their last 21 games.

“We do owe them one from last year but we’re fairly confident going in that we can get the right result.

“It’s going to be two good sides going at it.”

In Rameez Raja, Simm has a professional at his disposal ideal for this form of the game, the Pakistani Twenty20 international having already scored a century against Morecambe in the group stages.

He said: “Rameez has scored plenty of runs.

“He’s a T20 international so hopefully he can lead from the front.

“Once he’s got going he’s been pretty special to watch.”

There will be fun for all the family on the day with a BBQ, indoor and outdoor bar, music, a bouncy castle and face painting.

The Lancashire Cricket Board will also be hosting a competition where people can test out their bowling skills against a speed gun.

Lancaster have their free week in the Northern Premier League this Saturday.

Morecambe on the other hand will look to extend their lead at the top of the table with a win over Netherfield at Woodhill Lane. 1pm start.