Whitley Hall reached their first Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy final when they scored a convincing seven-wicket win over Pudsey Congs at the Britannia Ground.

The South Yorkshire League champions were good value for their victory which was sealed with 16 balls to spare.

They will now meet Solly Sports Central Yorkshire League champions Wrenthorpe in the final at Hanging Heaton on Sunday, August 21, 1pm.

Whitley Hall bowled tightly, fielded tigerishly and batted with controlled aggression as they exposed an injury-hit Pudsey Congs attack.

The JCT600 Bradford League champions could have few complaints about the outcome. Their total of 236-7 was around 30 runs short of what looked necessary on a fine batting pitch.

Congs will reflect too on a number of careless dismissals which caused them to lose wickets and momentum at key times in their innings.

Opener Gareth Phillips (41) and Andy Siddall (30) were both guilty of losing their wickets when looking set and it was left to the impressive Adam Patel (63) and big-hitting Muhammad Naved (40) to increase the tempo in the later stages of the innings.

Whitley Hall were impressive in the field. Their ground fielding was faultless, their catching - apart from one drop - was secure and that provided their bowlers with the perfect back up.

Opening bowler Tom Fletcher typified the Whitley Hall spirit as he conceded just 26 runs in ten overs. Alex Welsh (1-34) also typified the accuracy of the Whitley Hall bowling.

If skipper Andy Bethel — a stalwart of the Pudsey Congs team that won five JCT600 Bradford League championships between 2000 and 2004 — was delighted with his side's performance in the field, he had every reason to be thrilled by their batting.

They made the worst possible start when Welsh left the first ball of the innings alone and was bowled by Naved, but that didn't dent their confidence.

Neil Longhurst seized the initiative and exposed the weakness of the Congs' attack as he raced to 92 off 89 balls with a six and 12 fours. He was joined in a crucial second-wicket stand of 141 by former Cleckheaton batsman Chris Siddall who made 53.

After they were parted, the experienced Jamie Tasker hit 55 off 53 balls to secure their victory.

Their win means that there is guaranteed to be a new name on the trophy this year as both Whitley Hall and Wrenthorpe have reached the final for the first time. It should be an interesting battle.