Shrewsbury close in on more national joy

The memories of 1983 are flooding back at Shrewsbury as they reached the last 16 of the ECB National Knockout.

Winners of the competition 26 years ago, Shrewsbury kept alive their hopes of another famous triumph in the competition after edging past Walsall in the re-arranged regional final last Sunday.

The Shropshire side now meet Walmley on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals and were delighted to see off the threat of Walsall, having been in a commanding position when the rain arrived a fortnight ago.

"We made it a bit closer than we should have done and possibly dropped off a little bit when we were in control," admitted captain Ed Foster. "But it was a very good victory and an excellent performance."

Having scored 211-8 in their 45 overs, Shrewsbury looked in total control as they reduced Walsall to 36-5.

Mike Barnard took three early wickets while Joe Leach dismissed former Shrewsbury allrounder Jack Shantry for one.

But Shropshire professional Andy Gray teamed up with Tim Maxfield to launch a counter-attack.

They put on 121 for the sixth wicket before Maxfield was caught and bowled by Foster for 85 and Gray was run out for 46.

Walsall remained in contention and needed eight off the final over, but Matthew McKeever kept his nerve to take the match-clinching wicket off the first delivery to send Shrewsbury through.

Meanwhile, Quatt's dreams of a Lord's final are over for another year after they were soundly beaten by Lancashire Premier League side Great Eccleston in the last 16 of the nPower National Village Knockout.

The Bridgnorth-based hosts were defeated by eight wickets, and captain Adrian Evans admitted his side could have few complaints.

"We were beaten by the better team," he said. "We were pretty average in all departments.

"We were beaten at the same stage last season and, in both years, it was probably our worst performance of the season.

"I don't know whether it is the pressure of being so close to Lord's or what but we haven't performed anywhere near our best in either game."

Eugene McCarney's 56 was the chief contribution as Quatt struggled up to 163-6 from their 40 overs.

But that proved to be well short of competitive as Great Eccleston cruised home for the loss of just two wickets with more than eight overs to spare.

By JAMES GARRISON