CUMBRIA County Cricket Club booked their place in the finals after winning both T20 matches in their Super 12 mini-league at Furness CC.

Those results mean the will play in the Finals Day of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 competition for the first time.

In the first match, Lincolnshire got off to a great start having won the toss and chose to field, as Freddie Fallows (Kendal CC) was caught on the long-on boundary first ball.

Fortunately, Sam Dutton (Kendal CC) and Harry Singh (Flixton CC and Lancashire CCC) put on a partnership of 47, including the first six to sail out of the ground when Singh cleared the clubhouse.

Dutton scored 21 off 17 balls, 2 x 4s, strike rate 123.53 before a spinning delivery crept though his defences and felled his middle stump.

Lancs team-mates Singh and George Lavelle on debut (Ormskirk CC) brought the score to 76 when Lavelle fell to a brilliant one-handed diving catch by Tom Keast at mid-on.

Singh was then joined by Skipper Michael Slack (Carlisle). Their top partnership of the day (55) was a masterclass in patience and positivity. Singh continued to be dynamic at the crease and Slack got good value for reverse sweeps and switch hits in amongst straightforward shots.

When Slack (35 off 28, 3 x 4s, 1 x 6, S/R 125.00) was caught on the boundary at deep square leg Cumbria were on 131-4.

Greg Cameron (Keswick CC) was stumped first ball. However, Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth CC) and Singh added a further 10 before Singh was caught at long-off.

With figures of 64 from 56, 4 x 4s, 3 c 6s, S/R 114.29 Singh’s mature performance, and highest score of the day, belied his age (a month short of 20), and Cumbria posted 148/6.

Cumbria struck third ball into the Lincolnshire innings as Ben Wright was caught and bowled by Fallows.

Next over Nic Keast attempted a sweep off an Ed Moulton (Chorley CC) delivery, but directed it onto his stumps.

Then a ball from Slack caught the shoulder of Sam Evans bat and looped up for a simple catch by Nico Watt (Carlisle CC) at cover.

Qundeel Haider and Lincs skipper Tom Keast put on the visitors’ top partnership (of 46), but Moulton returned to the action to clean bowl both of them in one over.

Shortly afterwards Richardson stumped Jordan Cook (28), who with a Strike Rate of 175 had been threatening.

Sam Sharp (Kendal CC) took a superb running catch on the boundary to dismiss Drew Sylvester off Slack.

Lavelle  the caught Fateh Singh at deep square leg on the final ball of the match as Lincs fell 22 runs short.

In the second match, Herefordshire (115/2 off 18.2 overs) beat Lincolnshire (114/9 off 20 overs).

That meant the winner of the last match would be through to Finals Day.

Ollie Walker was the first to fall for Herefordshire, hitting firmly to Singh at cover off Moulton, who a few balls later bowled Jujhar Johal.

Moulton then bowled Nick Hammond before Imaad Mahmood fell to a diving-on-the-run-catch by Sharp at deep square leg off Slack.

When Lavelle caught ex-Worcestershire player Matt Pardoe (18) off Watt to leave the visitors on 51/5 in the 13th over Cumbria supporters were beginning to dream of a final.

But Cumbria suffered a big blow as skipper Slack had to be taken to Furness General Hospital having heard his knee pop.

Cumbria struck again, as Watt and Richardson combined to stump Luke Powell.

With Moulton bowled out, and Slack retired hurt, Sam Sharp was called into the attack.

Herefordshire wickets continued to tumble, and they were all out for 89.

In reply, Cumbria sealed a six-wicket victory as they finished with 90/4 off 16.2 overs.

Finals Day in the T20 Cup takes place at Chester Boughton Hall this Sunday, 10am-7pm.

Tickets are available £10 in advance online from www.eventbrite.co.uk or £12.50 on the day. Cumbria will face Oxfordshire in first semi-final, Staffordshire face Berkshire in the second.