Quatt Cricket Club keep Lord's dream alive

Quatt Cricket Club remain on course to fulfil their dream of playing in a national final at Lord's – but will have to become happy travellers to do so.

The FBC Manby Bowdler Shropshire County Cricket League side swept into the last 16 of the National Village Knockout on Sunday courtesy of a 65-run home triumph over Herefordshire outfit Colwall.

It is the third time Quatt have reached this stage of the competition, and they have once progressed to the quarter-finals in 2010.

The Shropshire side, skippered in the 40-overs-per-side knockout by Craig Jones, now face a trip to Cropston in Leicestershire on Sunday, July 15, the first of three away games they would have to win to reach the home of cricket.

"Where we are in the draw means we would have to play away in all our games through to the final from now on," said spokesman Adam Evans.

"That makes it difficult because we know exactly how to play our home venue and that's a big advantage.

"But we will give it our best shot and do our homework on Cropston."

Tom Whitney was the Quatt hero in Sunday's victory. His patient 86 provided the platform for Quatt's 207-7 and he then claimed two stumpings and instigated a run out as Colwall were dismissed for 145.

"Tom was magnificent and our man of the match," added Evans.

"After the rain we had in the build-up, it wasn't the easiest wicket to score on when you were new to the crease. We needed somebody at the top of the order to dig in and bat for a long time and Tom was the man to do that."

The win capped a memorable weekend for Quatt, who moved back to the top of the Shropshire County Cricket League Premier Division 24 hours earlier.

Four wickets from Jones helped Quatt dismiss Shelton for 129, only for rain to reduce their chase to just 29 overs.

Ben Chambers claimed two early wickets for hosts Shelton but Quatt raced to a five-wicket win with more than six overs to spare, opening up a 10-point lead.