Duo face thrilling final-day clash in big promotion race

STONE SP seconds and Rode Park & Lawton will battle it out for the second promotion place in NSSCL Division One on the final day of the season.

- Chris Travers

It will be Stone SP who have home advantage and a 10-point lead as well as the duo lock horns attempting to join champions Barlaston in stepping up.

Stone SP missed the chance to seal their own elevation at the weekend after losing a rain-affected encounter to the table toppers.

Visitors Stone SP took first use and managed to stick 174-8 on the board from their 40 overs.

Cameron Sinclair top-scored with 68 not out, which contained nine fours and one six, with support coming from John Cheadle (28), Mikey Parker (24) and Drew Chandler (19).

Ethan Squire picked up 4-23 for Barlaston and there were a couple of scalps for Jack Davies.

The rain meant that Barlaston were set a revised target of 106 to win in 18 overs.

And they managed to bank a five-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare.

Brian Sims (22) made an impact early on, before Rory Jones’ unbeaten 58, which included one four and five sixes, plus 15 not out from Ben Grange, sealed the deal.

Kasun Abeysinghe took two wickets.

Third-placed Rode Park & Lawton maintained their interest in the promotion race with a home win against Cheadle seconds.

The hosts were in the driving seat from the moment they amassed 283-8 from their 40 overs.