And then there were 2!
We’re down to the last 2 in the T20 National Championship as we head to Wormsley for the final on Sunday!
North v South: New Farnley and Wanstead Set for National T20 Showdown at Wormsley
The stage is set. This Sunday at Wormsley, two of the strongest club sides in the country meet in the ECB National T20 Final having played 8 games each to reach this stage.
New Farnley from the Bradford League and Wanstead & Snaresbrook from Essex, it’s North v South – and it promises to be one of the best days of club cricket this season – subject to the weather!
New Farnley’s Unbeaten Charge
Few sides have dominated their leagues in 2025 like New Farnley. Unbeaten in the Bradford Premier League and already crowned champions, the side come into the final brimming with confidence. The runs have flowed from Ryan McKendry and Aiden Langley, while Abhay Negi’s has been almost impossible to get away. Throw in a middle order that always contributes, and it’s no surprise they’ve barely been troubled all year.
Ed Brown admitted this week: “We’d be surprised if we’re not in the top three or four sides in the country.” A national title would prove the point.
Wanstead’s Powerhouse Batting
If New Farnley are built on consistency, Wanstead & Snaresbrook arrive on weight of runs. Haaris Usman has been a rock at the top of the order, while Hassan Hameed and Ali Zeb sit in the National top 10 ten for runs in the National stages of the competition this summer. Their power hitting has blown sides away, and the depth extends down the order.
The real weapon, though, is with the ball. Yuvraj Odedra has been outstanding in the middle and death overs, tying down sides when the game looked to be getting away. For him, lifting the trophy would be “the cherry on the cake to end the season.”
Key Battles to Watch
– Negi v Odedra: The seamer duel could decide it. Who holds their nerve in the closing overs?
– McKendry v Wanstead’s spin attack: New Farnley’s anchor against Wanstead’s variety.
– Usman v Farnley’s seamers: If Haaris Usman gets going, Wanstead set totals few can chase.
Both sides have players capable of winning matches single-handedly. On recent form, it feels like the game could turn on a single spell or a ten-ball burst of hitting.
Check out all the 2025 Premier League Centurions HERE
Tale of the Tape
– New Farnley unbeaten in the Bradford League; about to break the league points record.
– Wanstead reached Wormsley by rolling Buckhurst Hill in the Essex decider and seeing off strong national opposition against Three Bridges & Exmouth on the South Regional Finals day.
– New Farnley have leaned on disciplined bowling and steady accumulations; Wanstead have thrived setting high-scores and squeezing the opposition chase.
What’s at stake?
More than a trophy. For both clubs, it’s a shot at national recognition. New Farnley could cap an unbeaten season with proof they’re England’s premier T20 outfit. Wanstead could cement their place as the powerhouse of southern club cricket with a National trophy and a semi-final place in the National knockout.
Both sides believe they belong in this conversation. Only one will walk away with the title.
The Verdict
Expect fireworks. Expect sixes into the Wormsley hedgerows, bowlers trying to drag back run rates, and a final that could go to the wire. If Hoylandswaine’s 592 reminded us last week of the madness club cricket can bring, this final is the other side of the coin – quality players, elite setups, and the best stage in the country.
Who wins? It’s 50/50 for us but lets just hope the weather allows us to see a great final
You can hear more from Fletcher Coutts & Ed Brown of New Farnley and Yuvraj Odedra & Haaris Usman from Wanstead & Snaresbrook on the Premier League Cricket Show podcast as they discuss their routes to the final and what it would mean to be National Champions!
CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO THE ECB T20 NATIONAL COMPETITION FIXTURES & RESULTS
