Pirates will meet Tridents in the Toyota DPL 2025 final in Cardiff on Wednesday after rain scuppered the chance of a dramatic conclusion to the group stages.
With Pirates 鈥� last year鈥檚 winners 鈥� already assured of a last-two spot following four straight wins across the first two weekends鈥� round-robin fixtures, the focus was on the battle between Tridents, Black Cats and Hawks to secure that second final spot.
The stage was set at Colwall CC against the eye-catching backdrop of the Malvern Hills, but the weather had other plans. Well before midday, the remaining four fixtures were abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Tridents鈥� two wins 鈥� the second thanks to skipper Liam O鈥橞rien鈥檚 critical six that helped them inch them past Hawks on DLS in a rain-affected chase last weekend 鈥� proved enough to set up a repeat of last year鈥檚 final for the Sky Sports cameras at Sophia Gardens.
It promises to be a thrilling affair, with O鈥橞rien 鈥� a winner in 2022 鈥� keen to see his side capitalise on their good fortune by showing their true colours in Cardiff.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got ourselves into winning positions and have found ways to lose,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 just want a bit more killer instinct 鈥� we should have beaten Pirates in the first game, but dropped Will Flynn twice. You can鈥檛 drop international players and expect to win games 鈥� so my message will be all about execution.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be Pirates鈥� game to lose,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e not lost since the 2023 final 鈥� all the pressure鈥檚 on them. And I love being the underdog.鈥�
Pirates鈥� skipper Anthony Clapham 鈥� looking to be the first side to defend the trophy 鈥� shrugged off the favourites tag, but was quietly confident of his side鈥檚 chances.
鈥淲e鈥檙e unbeaten in 13 games, so we鈥檙e creating a bit of a dynasty really, and winning is a habit,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been a real team this year 鈥� there鈥檚 nobody that鈥檚 stood out, with good contributions through the side.
鈥淏rendon [Parr] getting out in the first over last year sent shock waves through the dressing room because he鈥檇 scored so many runs, but this year, it鈥檚 been any one of a number of players who have stepped up and taken care of business. Everybody has stood out in some way.鈥�
One intriguing change from last year鈥檚 personnel is in the switch of seamer Adnan Ghani 鈥� who made such a dramatic impact for Pirates in the final with 4-18 鈥� lining up for Tridents this time round.
Weather willing it should be another memorable match-up ahead of England Men鈥檚 Vitality IT20 clash with South Africa 鈥� with a reserve day set aside at Loughborough if required.