TOFT’S cricketers are preparing for the club’s biggest day in 30 years after reaching Sunday’s ECB Club T20 National finals day at Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

They will face Sheffield Collegiate in the semi at 2.30pm - and if successful they will then take on the winners of the Cranleigh and Swardeston tie in the final under lights later that day.

Battling team spirit and playing with a smile have been key to their success so far, proceeding through the county group stages, then beating Bramhall in the quarter final, Nantwich in the semis, before accounting for Chester in the County Final.

That saw them progress on to an area finals day where they comfortably despatched Prestwich and Menai Bridge before beating Ormskirk in the Regional Final under the Duckworth/Lewis method following fine batting from Henry Hughes, Andy Jackson and James Scott.

The excitement has been building around the club since then, with 100 followers making the trip to the showpiece event.

Skipper Jimmy Lomas, who has been at the club since the age of seven and has been captain for the last two, is relishing the occasion.

The 28-year-old explained that their success this year comes from a slight change in approach.

He said: “It has to be the biggest day as a club in 30 years – this is massive for the club.

“In the past we have approached the T20 in a different way, but this time I made a conscious effort over the winter to look at this as I felt we had the side to have a crack at it.

“I wanted them to show how good they can be, chest out and let’s see where it takes us.

“Getting to the Cheshire finals day was brilliant because we just defended, fielded and bowled like champions and that is why we won the game. It was brilliant.”

There have also been some exceptional batting performances along the way, not least from Jackson.

“If you look at Jacko’s stats he has scored more than 350 runs in seven games. He is freakish at times - I have never seen a cleaner ball striker at this level.”

“He is such a talented cricketer and an asset for us to have, and a quite a free spirit.”

But it has been a collective effort to get them here from a young side, largely aged between 20-23..

“We go out there and the message has been let’s go out there and enjoy it, play our best.

“When we are all enjoying it we play our best cricket. When our backs are to the wall and we are not favourites we show how good we can be.

“That is our whole approach. We are going into Sunday to show how good we can be.

“I am personally proud of it, but for the club as a whole it has brought a great feeling to everyone and back to the club.

“It is addictive - when you get this far you want to keep going and keep winning,” he said.