Delph are homing in on glory

DELPH are counting down to the first of two finals in the space of three weekends.

Grant Jones’ side play host to Honley in the culmination of the Examiner Twenty20 competition on Sunday (start 2pm). Two weeks later, they will do battle for the Romida Sykes Cup.

After seeing their Drakes Huddersfield League premiership one title hopes suffer a jolt last weekend — they lost heavily to Barkisland — Delph will see the chance to win the first piece of silverware on offer this season as the perfect pick-me-up.

They are at home to basement boys Emley Clarence tomorrow, but that is merely a taster for when the big-hitters take centre stage in front of a large crowd 24 hours later.

Jones said: “We won this when it was the eight-a-side competition (14 overs each) in our first season in the league back in 1999.

“Nine years is a long time to wait to reach the final again, but we’ve made it and it has the potential to be a fine spectacle.

“Honley are a good side, but they are missing opener John Greaves with an Achilles injury, which is a big loss to them.

“We’re without Mike Smethurst and Luke Hargreaves, but Kyle Hogg and Kamran Mirza can play. Kyle can make a huge difference, as he showed in the semi-final against Broad Oak.”

Lancashire all-rounder Hogg smashed 85 from only 33 balls, while overseas player Bilal Khilji hit 46 from 25 deliveries.

Delph’s efforts in overcoming their hosts’ total of 222 meant not only a place in the final but also home advantage by virtue of scoring more runs than Honley in the last four.