Delighted Woodbank captain Steve Dearden hailed his side’s performance after dumping holders Northern CC out of this year’s Lancashire Cricket Board Knockout Cup competition at The Kenyons on Sunday.

The Bankers’ success in a hard-fought game against the much-fancied ECB Premier Liverpool and District champions, is a massive result for the Lancashire County League side.

“It is a great day for Woodbank,” said Dearden.

“We took them by surprise. I think they expected to come here, comfortably beat us and be home by 5pm.

“Our season is going well. It’s taken six or seven games for us to gel together but I feel we’ve reached that point now where we are playing as a team rather than a group of individuals, and that is being reflected in performances.”

Woodbank got off to a great start with Harry Dearden and Bret Collins punishing the Northern bowling attack. Collins was the first man to go for 41, while Dearden pressed on to reach 50. With the score at 133-2 with 15 overs left, Northern made the crucial breakthrough, dismissing Dearden for 63. Captain Dearden, Pro Lewis McIntosh, Ryan Barker and Saj Nawaz all chipped in with scores in the teens to give Woodbank a creditable 217-9 off 45 overs. Northern’s star bowler was T Sephton who took 4-21 in his allotted nine overs.

Pace bowler Kieran Grundy struck early to get Northern opener Plattern out lbw for nine in their innings, and although Northern kept up the run rate, Woodbank continued to take wickets at regular intervals. The match entered the final thrilling stage with Northern requiring 35 off six overs with three wickets in hand and the dangerous Lucas looking set on 91. A great slower ball from pro McIntosh deceived Lucas who skied the ball into the waiting hands of Collins on the boundary. McIntosh took the final wicket to seal a 19-run win and set up an away tie at Westhoughton CC.

The weekend had begun well for the Bankers as they climbed to joint third in the league with a 16-run victory at Thornham on Saturday.