T20 First Division champion Warwick Workmen’s Club beat runners-up Cleveland County by 26 runs to land the T20 Knockout Cup final at White Hill Field on Sunday.

Malachi Jones and Luke Fulton led the way with the bat, scoring 35 and 31 respectively as Warwick made 164 for nine from their 20 overs before restricting their opponents to 138 for six in reply.

Warwick captain Cory Burgess was pleased with his side’s performance.

“We didn’t start as well as we wanted,” Burgess said. “But We got a good foundation with [Malachi] Jones and [Luke] Fulton to make 164. When we made that I knew we had the tools to complete the task.”

Cleveland opening bowler Jermal Proctor gave up three consecutive no balls above the waist to start the game, which went for nine runs without a legal ball faced. Tre Manders and Kamau Leverock then traded boundaries as Warwick scored 20 off the first over.

After fellow opening bowler Damali Bell conceded just four from his first six balls, Proctor grabbed the crucial breakthrough wicket. Leverock placed a straight drive in the general area of Kristian Singh, who shuffled behind extra cover to make a simple catch. Just two balls later, Proctor and the Cleveland team made a loud appeal for leg before against new bat Staphen Dill. However, umpire Anderson Cumberbatch denied the protests.

Cleveland continued to stray with their bowling, which gave captain Mackih McGowan the option to bowl himself and he helped to seize momentum when McGowan took their third wicket for just five runs, trapping Tre Manders leg before for 11.

Malachi Jones, another experienced campaigner, recovered the ship with Luke Fulton. Jones started with the aggressive role before young Fulton came into his own.

Warwick showed intent in the middle overs, where Jones pummeled consecutive sixes in a 14-run over from Q’Shai Darrell. McGowan returned for his second over, and Jones poked towards mid-wicket, where Darrell shuffled a few steps and took an easy catch.

McGowan’s third over went for 15, with two no balls and three wides, ensuring 11 balls were required to complete it.

Warwick’s Kevon Fubler had to retire hurt with a knee injury before Darrell bowled his final over. Fulton’s composed knock of 35 came to an end with a faint knick caught by keeper Steven Bremar. Two balls later, incoming bat Marcus Johnson failed to judge his shot, playing right into the thankful hands of Proctor.

Ajani Lee was run out by a sharp throw by Clay Darrell at the long on boundary, as he tried to cross for a second run with Jalani Richardson. Fubler came back for the final few balls, with Richardson cracking a glorious six to end the innings on 164 for nine.

Bremar powered consecutive sixes off Fubler to start the run chase emphatically for Cleveland. Richardson’s immaculate over of just three runs set them back but Cleveland hit the conclusion of the batting power play at a strong 53 without loss.

Richardson and Jones combined to break the shackles, with the former taking the catch to get Bremar for 33 in the eleventh over. Staphen Dill took his lone wicket in his last over, getting Proctor for 45 from Jones’ second catch of the run defence.

After Clay Darrell was stumped by the speedy Lee in the 17th over, Cleveland never really bounced back. Needing 54 to win off three overs, they lost the services of captain McGowan and Jabari Darrell and fell short by 26 runs.