COLWALL are just two victories away from a dream trip to Lords after reaching the quarter-final of The Cricketer Village Cup.

This weekend the Herefordshire side continued their run with a 30 run win against Worcestershire regional champions Astwood Bank in the last 16 tie.

Colwall were buoyed by their dominant display in the previous round of the competition and determined to atone for their exit at the similar stage of the competition last year to the same opposition.

The Astwood Bank skipper made the surprising choice to bowl first and Colwall capitalised on this with an opening stand of 49 between openers Olly Cox and Ben Cooke.

Despite losing Cox, Rich Howitt (29) and Cooke continued to flay the ever – increasingly, ragged Astwood Bank bowling, sharing a stand of 98.

Howitt but runs were still flowing freely for Colwall with Cooke continuing his all-conquering display before unselfishly departing for 90, trying to push the Colwall total on to a greater score.

Cooke’s innings contained 13 fours and three sixes - a fine innings that the Astwood Bank bowlers simply had no answer to.

Ben Wheeler (22) was out in the same vein and it was left to Ben Febery (34 from 32 balls) and Fergus Cameron (10 from 10 balls) to give the Colwall innings a final flourish to steer them to 228-8 from their allotted overs.

The hosts began their innings at a modest tempo, finding it difficult to get away the tight bowling of Andrew Robertson (1-38) and particularly Luke Dalley (0-23).

A partnership of 72 put the hosts back into the tie until Howitt (1-35) made the vital breakthrough and Cox followed with another wicket. This left Astwood Bank with the daunting task of getting themselves in with the required run rate at seven an over.

They batted with mild conviction, coupled with stubborn resistance but not with the attacking prowess to keep up with the required run rate.

With the game beginning to slip away from Astwood Bank and lofted, attacking shots being forced, the introduction of leg spinner James Wagstaff (5-30) was to prove crucial in deciding the game for Colwall.

The visitors bowled and fielded superbly throughout, only affording the hosts 10 extras, outplaying them in every aspect of the game to restrict them to 198-8, 30 runs adrift of the required total.

Colwall will host Gloucestershire champions Dumbleton in a last-eight tie at Stowe Lane on Sunday (August 30) at 1pm.

All supporters are warmly encouraged and are reminded to follow social distancing rules and any further measures that the club has put in place.