NETHERFIELD progressed to the semi final of the Readers Cup after taking full advantage of an amended victory target as John Huck came to the batting party in no uncertain terms.

After a rain delay, Leyland posted 244-5 from their 40 overs with Nathan McDonnell top scoring with 65 and Australian professional Alex Ross adding 57.

With a re-calculation based on run rate, Netherfield were set a revised 110 from 18 overs with Huck’s blistering 66 ensuring the hosts cantered home in the 14th over.

After being invited to bat first, Leyland’s openers put on a productive stand for the first wicket as Chris Parkinson and Luis Reece shared a half century stand.

 The duo progressed the score to 76 before both were removed in successive Stuart Dixon overs, with Parkinson first to go after being trapped in front for 37.

 A further seven runs were added before Reece – who opened the batting for Lancashire at the start of the season – holed out to Brad Earl at extra cover for 34.

 Ross and McDonnell then combined to add the highest partnership of the innings and bat Leyland into a position of strength at 161-2 heading into the final ten overs.

 Ryan Wilson stopped Ross in his tracks as the 22-year-old edged behind to Ben Barrow for 57 after bringing up his half century in 31 balls and clobbering three sixes.

 Andrew Makinson cleared the boundary ropes before edging Sri Lankan professional Saliya Saman behind for 12 as Leyland closed in on 200.

 McDonnell proved the mainstay of the Leyland innings with a knock of 65 before Saman struck again with the first ball of the final over.

 McDonnell departed for 65 after picking out Ben Phillips on the long on boundary, with Karl Cross finishing unbeaten on 18 as Saman and Dixon claimed two wickets apiece.

 A rain delay in the 21st over resulted in a revised victory target based on run rate, with Netherfield set 110 from 18 overs.

 Netherfield were only four balls into their reply when Saman holed out to Leyland captain David Makinson off Reece for four, attempting to repeat his second-ball shot to the boundary.

 Huck joined Phillips at the crease and over the next eight overs the pair batted Netherfield into the ascendency and within sight of victory.

 Phillips was very much the junior partner as Huck took centre stage, bringing up his half century from just 18 balls and taking no prisoners with the bat.

 The Parkside Road dup put on 71 for the second wicket before Phillips departed for 13, stumped by wicketkeeper Thomas Murray off the bowling of Tayyab Afsar.

 Huck continued to mix intelligent strokeplay with raw aggression, guiding Netherfield home with a top score of 66 from just 38 balls, which contained six fours and three sixes.

 Skipper Marc Brown was no shrinking violet either, finishing unbeaten on 20 from 21 balls as Huck finished proceedings with a six, with Netherfield reaching their victory target with 4.1 overs to spare.

 Brown and Co. now head to St. Annes for a semi-final clash, the stage of the competition they reached last year before missing out in controversial fashion to Blackpool.