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The Road To Lord's





Round Six - National 16

In an incredible encounter in South Wales, Pentyrch were chasing a target of just 126 to beat Goatacre, and with eight overs remaining required 28 more with five wickets in hand. Set batsman Jamie Mills knocked ten off that total with a four and a six, and despite the economical Goatacre spinner Ewen Kenny dismissing his partner Gregor McKain LBW attempting a sweep in the following over, a further maximum from Mills brought the equation down to 10 from 35 balls. A scrambled two, a couple of singles, a nurdled two down to third man, and a further single meant that Pentyrch needed 3 more to win with four wickets standing. And suddenly it all came apart. Mills attempted to work Kenny to third man and edged a juggled catch to the keeper. New man Dominic Gambles stole a single from a mis-hit off the toe-end of the bat, but Kenny saw out the rest of his over with a couple of dot balls. With 2 runs required, the hitherto wicketless Conor Taylor - who'd been going at nearly five an over - bowled Gambles as he tried to finish things with a scything hit, then took a simple caught-and-bowled chance to remove Tegh Seghal with the next delivery. The hat-trick ball brought an LBW shout against new man Mike Grossett, who was halfway down the pitch for a scrambled single to tie the game when the umpire raised a finger to end Pentyrch's hopes of a first national quarter-final and send the two-time champions through.

Goatacre face defending champions Calmore Sports in the quarter-finals, while last year's runners-up Alvanley travel to Rainford. 2020 runners-up Redbourn are still in the hunt in the south-east, up against Foxton Granta. Quarter-finals to be played on 17th July.

Scotland & North

Rainford (South Lancs) vs Alvanley (Cheshire)

North Wales & Midlands

Cropston (East Midlands) vs Dumbleton (Worcestershire)

South Wales & South West

Calmore Sports Club (Hampshire) vs Goatacre (Wiltshire)

South East

Foxton Granta (Cambridgeshire) vs Redbourn (Hertfordshire)