EGERTON’S good cup form has brought about an interesting selection headache for the Blackburn Road club.

Captain Will Halton’s side beat Wakefield side East Ardsley by 48 runs in Sunday’s regional final of the National Village Cup.

They comfortably defended a 149 target in a 40-over clash across the Pennines, with 13-year-old left-arm spinner George Taylor returning 2-28 from 7.2 overs as the hosts were bowled out for 100.

It means the GMCL outfit are now just four wins from a place in the final at Lord’s in September, with their next round clash against either Mottram or Hawk Green from Cheshire on Sunday June 23.

“We have an interesting scenario now because we also play Norden in the last 16 of the Lancashire Knockout and play in the next round of this competition on the same day,” explained team manager Dave Tattersall.

“Instead if pulling out of one competition, we have decided that we want to play both games on the same day.

“We’ve had this issue before where we put our second team out in the Village Knockout.

“In fact, on one occasion, we got knocked out of two cups on the same day.

“Hopefully that won’t happen again.

“It’s a difficult one because we’re getting closer to an appearance at Lord’s, which would be a big day for the lads.”

Sunday’s win was their fourth in the South Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside group to set up a fifth round clash with Cheshire and Clwyd winners Mottram or Hawk Green, who were rained off on Sunday and meet again this weekend for the right to play Egerton.

Mathew Hamnett’s unbeaten 37 off 42 balls was the feature of Egerton’s 148-8 after electing to bat.

Wicketkeeper Dan Partington hit 32, but he was one of the wickets to fall as they slipped to 103-7 in the 31st over before Hamnett’s recovery.

“Maty Hamnett has not been a first-team regular by his own choice rather than ability. But he came in and batted really well,” said Tattersall.

“He’s not just a good player – he’s really good in the field as well, he’s got a superb attitude.

“He’s been enjoying his cricket in the second team, but he’s come in for these Village games and done a good job.

“I thought we were a bit below par with 148, but we bowled and fielded really well.”

East Ardsley slipped from 22-0 in reply to 29-5, with captain Halton’s off-spinners – 2-7 from six overs – at the heart of a collapse which settled the game.

Phil Dickinson also claimed 3-22 from seven.

Tattersall added: “The last five or six games Will’s bowled with a lot of control.

“He’s maybe bowling it slightly flatter than he did earlier in the season, which is helping.

“He’s building pressure all the time because he’s not just taking wickets, he’s keeping the runs down as well.

“George is only 13, but he’s in the side on merit and is in the Lancashire age-groups. He was superb, as was Phil.”