THERE'S a distinct Wirral flavour to this Sunday's finals day of the Liverpool Echo Knockout Tournament. 

Neston have battled their way through to the tournament's conclusion which will be hosted by Upton - the lowest ranked club left in the competition.

They will be joined unexpectedly by Birkenhead Park who have received a bye to the semi finals after their quarter final opposition, Northern, announced they were pulling out. 

The Crosby side are involved in the area finals of the national Vitality Club T20 Cup on the same day, after it was postponed following last weekend’s rain.

James Cole’s men were due to play their ECHO Cup quarter-final at Birkenhead Park on Friday evening and asked for finals day to be pushed back by a week if they were to qualify.

But the request was rejected by the Love Lane Liverpool Competition’s management committee, which oversees the cup’s administration, resulting in their withdrawal and Park's progression. 

 

It is a huge day for Upton, who play in the fourth tier of the Cheshire County Cricket League, and rarely get to meet their Wirral neighbours who play in the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition. 

Upton's Jez Lamb said: "Being selected to host the Echo Knockout Finals Day is massive for a club like Upton.

"First and foremost, this is only possible due to the fantastic efforts by the players who have beaten three higher ranked clubs than us to reach this stage.

"We clearly go into the semi-finals as the ‘underdogs’ but anything can happen and I’m confident all the players will represent the badge well.

"Hosting the day is massive for a club like ours. We may be a small club, but we have big ambitions! It’s only when you start to look at what’s needed to make the day run smoothly do you realise what a big undertaking this is.

"We’re extremely blessed with a fantastic membership who have all come together to give up their time and volunteer for a variety of jobs to make sure the day runs smoothly."

Neston, who sit fourth in the Cheshire County League’s ECB Premier Division, will be the highest-ranked side on finals day. 

They will face Comp Division One leaders Newton in the second semi-final on Sunday at 1.15pm, after the all-Wirral clash between Upton and Birkenhead Park at 10am.