CHESHIRE could not take an opportunity to secure their place at the Unicorns T20 Finals after visiting Lincolnshire on Sunday.

Instead they must now wait for the outcome of Cumberland’s head-to-head with Northumberland next month.

Rick Moore’s men won one, and lost the other, of two matches at Bourne.

It leaves them top of Group One with 10 points, but both of their rivals have a chance to catch them.

Their day started promisingly when they beat the hosts by eight runs after Wayne White (61 off 56 balls) anchored an innings that closed on 148-6.

Nick Anderson added 44.

Louis Kimber (54) and Conrad Louth (32) gave the hosts’ reply momentum before Cheshire fought back with Jack White (2-15) and Luke Robinson (2-26) taking two wickets each.

The visitors included Oulton Park all-rounder Ben Gibbon in their side for the second game, which Lincolnshire won convincingly.

Wayne White (52) continued a fine day’s work, putting on 72 runs for the third wicket with Jamie Crawford (64no off 46 balls) before Alex Willerton took four wickets from as many balls.

It left Cheshire on 165-7, and Willerton with 5-28.

Lincolnshire cruised to their target with eight wickets still standing, and with five overs to spare, after Lough (34) and Kimber (73no off 42 balls) again led the way.

The job was completed by Bilal Shafayat (50), who was caught by ex-Oulton Park captain Moore off the bowling of Gibbon.

“It’s frustrating not to grab our chance,” reflected Moore.

“But we’ve come a long way in a short space of time.”

Cheshire | Rick Moore (captain), Jamie Crawley, Jack Williams (all Chester Boughton Hall); Ash Davis, Will Evans (wicket-keeper) (both Neston); Wayne White (Leek); Mark Bennet (Marple); Luke Robinson (Nantwich); Nick Anderson (Didsbury); Ben Gibbon (Oulton Park); Jack White, Ed Galley (both Timperley)

Results

Unicorns T20

Sunday, June 16

Group One

Cumberland 221-5 Staffordshire 141, Cumberland 133-8 Staffordshire 134-6 (at Penrith CC)

Lincolnshire 140-6 Cheshire 148-6, Lincolnshire 166-2 Cheshire 165-7 (at Bourne CC)