BARNT Green cricket club are preparing for one of the most important weekends in their history when they represent the region at the Vitality ECB National Club T20 Area Finals on Sunday in Derbyshire.

The Green will confront some of the top club sides in Northern England where the winners will go forward to National Finals early next month.

Already the Green have disposed of some powerful sides ahead of their trip to Derbyshire.

Having removed fellow Birmingham League sides Bromsgrove, Halesowen and Ombersley, the Green then ousted Kenilworth Wardens and then Harborne on finals day.

It meant the Green went onto represent the Birmingham League in the regional finals which took place in Smethwick, where they proved seven wicket winners over Longton from the North Staffs and South Cheshire League.

That pitted the Green against Cheshire side Alderley Edge in the final, who in turn had defeated North Wales side Menai Bridge in their respective semi final.

In a much closer contest the Green triumphed by 23 runs to book their place in Derbyshire.

The Green have left nothing to chance and will travel for an overnight stay following Saturday’s Birmingham League contest with Shrewsbury.

They are due to face Yorkshire Premier League representatives Woodhouse Grange in their semi-final, which is scheduled to start at 10am.

Skipper Dom Harding said: “We’ve got a hotel booked just around the corner from Sunday’s venue at Denby Cricket Club. Hopefully that will give us an extra hour in bed.

“Just to reach the final would be something special. It takes place at John-Paul Getty’s ground at Wormsley. I’ve played there as a youngster and the ground is something spectacular. I believe the ground is a replica of either Lords or the Oval!

While the Green are unable to include their county stars Ed Pollock, Tom Banton, Matt Lamb and Ollie Stone plus Worcestershire Academy quick bowler Cameron Jones who is requested to rest, Harding believes they have enough quality in the side to succeed.

While the batting line-up has fired really well , much of the Green’s good form this season has been built around strike bowlers Robbie Shurmer and Andy Sutton.

While Oxfordshire Minor Counties man Shurmer has been in splendid form it’s Sutton whose stolen the show.

Sutton has already taken a stunning total of 61 wickets in the Birmingham League this season with three games still remaining.

Harding insisted: “It’s a testament to Andy who at the age of 36 has kept himself superbly fit. His discipline is second to none, he works extremely hard at his game and he’s great with the younger players.

“But the most important thing is that on the odd occasion when we haven’t played that well, we’ve always found a way to win."