Worcestershire Academy and Ireland Under-17s are heading for a T20 "decider" when they meet at Bromsgrove Cricket Club tomorrow (11am).
The Academy had the better of the two 50 over clashes between the sides at Stourbridge CC earlier in the week.
But Ireland responded by winning both T20 matches at Bromsgrove today and now will do battle with their hosts in another encounter in the short format of the game.
Both matches were low-scoring affairs despite being played on a wicket which offered some pace and bounce.
Worcestershire were put into bat in Game One and totalled 139-5 with George Newton (33 off 40 balls with four fours) top-scoring.
Ireland were made to work hard to reach their target with Matt Davis conceding only 20 runs in his four overs and Josh Haynes returning 2-22 with his left arm spin.
But they managed to squeeze home with one ball to spare, Josh Little ending unbeaten on 36.
Game Two was also keenly contested with Josh Haynes again bowling well as Ireland were bowled out for 116.
Haynes finished with 4-25 and was also involved in two run-outs.
Worcestershire reached 54-1 in reply but Ireland stuck to their guns and Max Neville's medium pace brought him figures of 4-13. The Academy eventually closed on 107-8.
GAME ONE
WORCESTERSHIRE ACADEMY
Jack Haynes c Vincent b Cawley 9
Johal c Neville b Cawley 15
Newton c Kelly b Chopra 33
Wade st Murphy b Chopra 26
Josh Haynes b Kennedy 12
Hassan not out 18
Wade not out 11
Extras 15
Total (for 5 wickets) 139 in 20 overs
FOW: 10, 39, 93, 94, 113
BOWLING
Kelly 4-0-32-0
Cawley 4-0-32-0
Kennedy 4-0-32-1
Neville 4-0-15-0
Chopra 4-0-24-2
IRELAND UNDER-17S
Grassi c Jack Haynes b Josh Haynes 30
Murphy c Josh Haynes b Page Morris 0
Vincent st Wilcox b David 20
Tector c Page-Morris b Tomson 11
Kennedy c Lloyd b Jack Haynes 28
Little not out 36
Topping not out 4
Extras 11
Total (for 5 wickets) 140 in 19.5 overs
FOW: 10, 50, 60, 68, 120
BOWLING
Pennington 3-0-18-0
Page-Morris 4-1-35-1
Josh Haynes 3.5-0-22-2
Davis 4-0-20-1
Tomson 3-0-19-1
Lloyd 2-0-21-0
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GAME TWO
IRELAND UNDER-17S
Grassi c Josh Haynes b Page-Morris 6
Murphy c Davis b Newton 13
Waite run out (Josh Haynes) 0
Vincent st Wilcox b Josh Haynes 32
Tector c Davis b Josh Haynes 13
Kennedy c Page-Morris b Hassan 0
Anders c Tomson b Josh Haynes 1
Little c Wade b Hassan 7
Kelly lbw Josh Haynes 4
Cawley not out 2
Neville run out (Josh Haynes) 16
Extras 22
Total (all out) 116 in 20 overs
FOW: 19, 19, 19, 53, 54, 55, 76, 91, 97, 116
BOWLING
Pennington 2-0-12-0
Page-Morris 4-0-15-1
Newton 3-1-20-1
Davis 1-0-8-0
Josh Haynes 4-0-25-4
Hassan 4-0-17-2
Tomson 2-0-16-0
WORCESTERSHIRE ACADEMY
Josh Haynes c Tector b Kelly 2
Hassan c Vincent b Neville 25
Page-Morris c Kelly b Chopra 22
Johal c Murphy b Neville 3
Wade c Murphy b Cawley 16
Jack Haynes c Grassi b Chopra 16
Newton b Neville 1
Wilcox c Chopra b Neville 6
Lloyd not out 0
Davis not out 5
Extras 11
Total (for 8 wickets) 107 in 20 overs
FOW: 18, 54, 58, 58, 82, 84, 101, 102
BOWLING
Kelly 4-0-16-1
Cawley 4-0-20-1
Kennedy 3-0-23-0
Chopra 4-0-21-2
Neville 4-0-13-4
Anders 1-0-6-0