Last Saturday saw another almost total washout as the British summer plays havoc with fixtures in the Dukes North East Premier League.

Before the next round of League fixtures, the qualification for the Finals Day of the Co-Operative Funeralcare Twenty20 will be sorted this Friday, with the picture still far from clear.

Chester le Street are the only confirmed semi finalist, having won all four of their group matches so far.  However the other three places are yet to be determined, with run rate likely to be a factor in at least one tie-breaker.

In Group A, Chester are a perfect 4 from 4 and clear with 12 points.  Then Durham Academy, Hetton Lyons and Sunderland are tied second with 2 wins and 2 losses.  Durham have a +1.42 run rate, while the other two are negative.

Group A's final round of fixtures sees Chester travel to Gateshead Fell, Stockon host Durham Academy and Hetton Lyons welcome Sunderland to Lillywhite Terrace.  If Stockton win then the winner of Lyons-Sunderland will go through to the semis as runner up.  If the Academy win then it will come down to net run rate - it's likely the phone lines between Stockton and Hetton will be red hot from 6pm on Friday night!

Group B is even less clear cut.

No fewer than five of the six teams have a chance at making Finals Day as we head into Match Day Five.  Currently South Northumberland and Benwell Hill are first and second in the table with three wins and 9 points.  The Bulls have a very healthy +3.06 run rate which may come into play.

Behind them, Newcastle, Blaydon and Tynemouth have six points and can still finish in the top two places.  South Shields have yet to win a T20 and are out of the picture, but they can still have a say in the group placings.

Round 5 fixtures sees Blaydon v Benwell Hill, South Shields v Newcastle and Tynemouth v South Northumberland.  A win for either the Hill or the Bulls will see them through, but wins for Newcastle, Tynemouth and Blaydon would put everything down to net run rate.

All games on Friday start at 6pm, why not go along and support your local club and enjoy the thrills and spills of Twenty20 cricket.  Each home club is putting on music, entertainment and great family fun in addition to a thrilling NEPL T20 game.

Friday fixtures (all 6pm): Group A: Gateshead Fell v Chester le Street, Stockton v Durham Academy, Hetton Lyons v Sunderland.  Group B: Blaydon v Benwell Hill, South Shields v Newcastle, Tynemouth v South Northumberland.

The Finals Day for the Co-Operative Funeralcare Twenty 20 is on Sunday July 24th, and will take place at the ground of one of the semi finalists.  Details will be released as soon as possible.