Gerrards Cross were crowned Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 champions for the first time in the club’s history on Sunday, albeit in rather bizarre fashion.

After beating Horspath and Burnham en route to the finals day, Cross claimed the title after seeing off both Slough and Banbury via a bowl out after the day’s play fell victim to the weather.

Matt Watson’s team now progress to the South East Area finals of the National Club T20 competition where they will face Colchester and East Essex CC in the semi-finals.

Should they win again, Cross will then meet the victors of a game between the Middlesex league winners and their Hertfordshire counterparts in the final, with both games being held on Sunday.

Last weekend’s finals day had been due to be held at Banbury Cricket Club but was switched indoors to the Blessed George Napier Catholic School’s sports hall due to the adverse weather.

Joe Bracey struck once and AJ Woodland twice as Cross overcame Slough 3-2 in the semi-final bowl out to set-up a showdown with Banbury.

After ten deliveries each the score was level at 3-3, meaning the match entered sudden death.

Both teams then hit with their next two deliveries before Banbury’s Lloyd Sabin missed the stumps, leaving the door open for Woodland to steal victory and hand Cross a 6-5 win.

A day earlier, Watson and his team strengthened their grip on second place in Home Counties Division Two with a crushing nine-wicket success against rock bottom Dinton.

 Having won the toss, Dinton elected to bat but soon found themselves in trouble when Dan Hampton (2-8) picked up the first wicket with the final ball of the second over to leave them 0-1.

Elliot Green tore through the middle order, finishing with figures of 5-11 from 4.4 overs as the visitors reached 90-6.

Incredibly, Dinton lost their last four wickets for just a single run as Izhan Khan (2-14) and Green cleaned up the tail with minimum fuss.

The home side wasted little time in wrapping up victory, needing just 15 overs to chase down their target with Jamie Hoddle (29) and James Crosthwaite (60) both finishing unbeaten.

Sam Westaway, who was removed for one, was the only man to fall as Cross moved to within 28 points of league leaders Great and Little Tew.

Tomorrow Cross take on Shipton-Under-Wychwood before the bid to progress further in the T20 cup on Sunday.