Chris Brown believes Norfolk deserve to be in the final

Norfolk's cricketers are through to the MCCA Trophy final after thrashing Oxfordshire by 157 runs in their semi-final at Manor Park.

Trevor Ward top-scored with 60 as Norfolk were all out for 235.

The visitors were then dismissed for just 78, with opening bowlers Paul Bradshaw and Michael Eccles taking five wickets between them.

Player-coach Chris Brown told BBC Radio Norfolk: "All the lads deserve to be in the final in a month's time."

He added: "That's the most aggressive we've been both with the ball and in the field. We made inroads into them early and the result paid off for us."

It is the fourth time in twelve years that Norfolk have made it to the final and they have won the competition on the three previous occasions.

This year they will face Staffordshire, who they lost to in the group stages of the competition.

The showpiece final is usually played at Lord's, but this year it has been switched to Durham's Riverside ground.

Brown says the pitch at Chester-le-Street is brilliant to play on.

"I've played there a couple of times before for Glamorgan and Lancashire. They have great facilities there and it is a fantastic arena.

"It's not quite like Lord's but it's probably the next best thing," he added.

The final against Staffordshire will be played on Wednesday, 22 July.

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