Cup semis have hat-trick in both

Chris Geere's was for Goring, but in vain against Worthing at the Manor Ground in a tie. The other was by Bob Reynolds but his team, The Cricketers, meanwhile beat St Mary's by 39 runs at Broadwater Green.

Reynolds, 51, dismissed three of the young Findon first-team players on an evening of ironies. He had Mickey Demetriou caught on the boundary by Graham Waller, the Findon captain who quit Long Furlong in considerable controversy this winter over the blending of talented young players into his established and mature Lord's Village Cup Final team. This season he joined Reynolds' Broadwater outfit.

The batsmen having crossed, Jack Metters, a second left-handed victim, was then clean bowled, to continue a dramatic sequence of innings that began with his fine 71 on Saturday for Findon, then brought the 17-year-old's second-ball duck for them in the Village Cup on Sunday. Reynolds then had wicketkeeper Mark Byerley lbw, and said later: "I did them all in the flight."

It was the second hat-trick of his career, the first for more years than he can remember, and he ended up with four for 50.

Goring got 37 apiece from Gareth Cook and Matt Keen but their 126 off 18 overs did not look quite enough until Geere put Worthing's reply under duress. Geere was in the third-last over when he bowled top-scorer Stuart Carter for 35, then had Worthing 1st XI batsman David Rogers lbw first-ball, then ex-first teamer Kevin Punter caught off his first ball by Gareth Cook, at short extra-cover off a leading edge.

In the other semi-final, in The Cricketers' 206 for two off 18 overs, Waller, and two of the other six Lord's Finalists who left Findon with him, had put the Long Furlong youngsters to the sword in their St Mary's colours.

Graham Waller and Paul O'Sullivan cracked 133 for first wicket, in 12.3 overs, including 93 off the first 10, which at that point left Demetriou costing 53 runs and Graham Manser 40 off their first five wicketless overs. Jack Metters hit back with two wickets for 45 but not before Steve Waller had devastatingly joined the assault. The 6ft 5in hitter allowed three dot balls in his 16-delivery innings. Five balls he hit for six, four he hit for four, and the innings closed after 18 overs with he unbeaten on 51.

St Mary's, hit by The Cricketers to the tune of 204 for one in their league match, made a better fist of their reply this time, before Reynolds poured his cold beer on them. Demetriou had made 52 when he fell, and with 34 from Bradley Bridson and 29 from Metters, St Mary's reached 167 for six in reply.

The results brought about a repeat of the evening League Cup Final of last year, between Worthing and the Cricketers, which will be at the Manor Ground on July 8. The Cricketers, by 35 runs, became the holders.

In the tie, Shane Felton took five for 25 for Worthing in Goring's 126 for nine but his side only went through on fewer wickets down after they missed a run-out chance in the last over (Geere again the bowler), then Felton scrambled a single off the last delivery to finish 126 for seven.

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