The winners of the Berkshire and the winners of the Wiltshire sections, came together on Sunday for a place in the quarter final and only three more steps away from a final game at the home of English cricket, Lords.
With rain and thunderstorms all around the country, the game got away on time. Emmbrook won the toss and elected to bat with the prospect of bad weather later in the day being a factor.
Emmbrook’s innings didn’t start well with opener Harry Ramsey going first ball for 0. Some slow rebuilding then took place with Matt Loxton (22) and Greg Davis (15) moving the score on to 49 before Loxton was out. Davis and Lazenbury (2) soon followed and Emmbrook found themselves 63-4.
Skipper Narraway ( 12) and all rounder Jason Middleton (27) tried to move the score on but Emmbrook were soon bundled out for just 123 after 35.3 overs.
The Goatacre reply was somewhat brutal with their opening batsman smashing 78 off just 40 balls hitting seven 4’s and six 6’s, one clean out of the ground. Emmbrook did claim two wickets with Toby Morgan (1-20) and Andy Lazenbury (1-27) but the result was never in doubt and Goatarce reached their target in 15.2 overs to end Emmbrooks’ dream of a Lords final.
Photos and words by Chris Cook