Deunte Darrell scored 64 off 52 balls and then claimed four wickets for 20 runs off 6.5 overs as Willow Cuts, of the Western Counties, booked their place in the final of the Champion of Champions by handing Western Stars their first loss of the season on Saturday.

Darrell helped Cuts to score 245 for eight after being sent in by Stars in a match reduced to 42 overs after a noon start because of early-morning rain. Coming in at No 3, Darrell hit three fours and four sixes in 86 minutes at the crease as he and opener Chris Douglas added 127 for the second wicket to lay the foundation for a challenging total.

Douglas, a guest player from Devonshire Rec, was high man for Willow Cuts with 79 from 85 balls, with eight fours and a six before he was fourth out, hit wicket off Brian Hall’s bowling in the 31st over when the score was 172.

Kavon Fubler scored valuable 34 from 28 balls at No 7 after a stand of 32 with captain Dwight Basden brought up the 200.

Hall, the Stars captain, claimed four for 40 from nine overs while young spinner Jaiden Manders claimed two for 63. Naquan Smith and veteran Andre Manders took one wicket each.

Stars’ run chase had a bad start, losing Swayne Campbell in the third over and Iejah Caines and Wayne Campbell in the fourth to be three for three. Temiko Wilson and Hall repaired the early damage with a fourth-wicket stand of 67 before Hall departed for 32 from 29 balls.

After that 58-minute stand was broken, wickets began to fall regularly again, with Wilson sixth out on 89 after scoring 37 from 85 balls. Makai Young, batting at No 7, finished on 28 not out with three fours and a six. The Central Counties champions batted with only ten men because of an injury to Seth Campbell.

Darrell led the Cuts bowling with his four wickets while Kavon Fubler took two for 21. Micah Simons, Douglas and Kevin Fubler, Kavon’s father, all took one wicket.

Willow Cuts will meet Cleveland, of the Eastern Counties, in the final at Lord’s next weekend.