WITH Josh Hutchinson and Ben Burkill at the crease, Thornton seemed on course for victory at the Spenser Wilson Halifax League's Foster's T20 finals day at Stones.

Warley had made 111-3 in the final of what were three T10 matches, thanks chiefly to Dan Syme (50 retired) and Shazad Hassan (30).

Syme was inches away from putting one of his six sixes down the chimney of an adjacent house, but Hutchinson (55 retired) and Burkill (33) took Thornton to within striking distance before both were dismissed.

However, the innings then fell away, in part due to excellent captaincy by Matthew Whitworth, and Thornton ended on 98-4, leaving Warley winners by 13 runs.

In the first semi-final, Copley's openers Alex Rowles and Alex Blagborough both made 51 retired but their other batsmen only made three between them in their 114-1.

Thornton then needed just 8.5 overs to reach their target, with Josh Hutchinson (55 retired) on top form, ably supported by Burkill (26no), Ross Soames (18) and Nikki Hutchinson (10no).

In the other semi-final, Warley lost the most wickets during the afternoon but also hit the highest score – 124-6 – against Triangle.

The three main contributors were Amid Azam (37), Greg Keywood (32) and Syme (19), with Christian Silkstone (2-12) being the only bowler to take more than one wicket during the day.

It was, however, Triangle skipper Silkstone, in fine form in the 45-overs format, who was the talking point of the day as he chose not to bat until the second wicket had fallen, by which time the run rate had crept up.

Despite the efforts of Daniel Crosland (31), Chris Metcalf (22) and a belated 29 not out from Silkstone, Triangle fell short by 15 runs due to some tight Warley bowling.

The finals, a victim of the weather on July 29, nearly suffered the same fate again at a blustery and partly wet Ripponden Old Lane but a magnificent effort from the Stones CC groundstaff, plus a shrewd switch to a T10 competition by the league executive, ensured that all three ties were played to a conclusion.

The T20 trophy was presented to the Warley skipper by Anthony Briggs, business development manager for Heineken (and also league chairman), brewers of Foster's.

Syme won the man-of-the-match award, judged by Stones CC cricket chairman David Mobbs, for his 19 and 50 retired.

Thanks were also expressed to umpires Steven Pullen and Raymond Taylor.