Semi-finals await after New Brighton win

1st XI power into Echo Cup semis after victory at Rake Lane

New Brighton 118-8 (Adam Neal 39, Oliver Griffiths 33; Imliwati Lemtur 3-8)

Rainhill 121-5 (Imliwati Lemtur 50*, Ross Higham 30; Mark Hale 3-24) Rainhill beat New Brighton by 5 wickets Scorecard

Imliwati Lemtur starred with bat and ball as Rainhill reached the semi-finals of the Liverpool Echo Knock-out Cup.

With Rainhill having opted to field, Lemtur took the early wickets of Owais Shah (7), Ashley Watkins (3) and Luke Terry (0) and then hit an unbeaten half-century to secure a semi-final meeting with Oxton.

Lemtur's trio of wickets had the hosts struggling on 33 for 3, but positive contributions from Adam Neal (39 from 25 balls) and Oliver Griffiths (33 from 38 balls) helped New Brighton to a total of 118 for 8 from their 20 overs. Neal was run out by Jack Lowrie, while Lemtur held the catch that brought an end to Griffiths' resistance.

Rainhill's response got off to the worst possible start as in-form batsmen Tyler McGladdery and Sam Kershaw were out early. McGladdery was caught behind the stumps by Neal while Kershaw was caught and bowled by Louis Botes. Rainhill recovered from 8 for 2, as Ross Higham and Ben Edmundson made progress - but were pegged back when Edmundson was caught by Owais Shah off the bowling of Oliver Griffiths. Mark Neal struck twice to remove James Clarke and Higham, who had made a useful 30 from 29 deliveries, and the game was very much in the balance with the score on 65 for 5. Lemtur, partnered by Mike Rotheram, adopted an aggressive approach, playing some pugnacious shots including four sixes as he raced to a 28-ball 50. It was to prove a match-winning performance and the pair were able to see Rainhill home with over three overs remaining.

Umpires: Jeremy Clein, John Farrell

Scorers: Josh Eastwood, Andrew Finney