QUATT’S dream of giving local cricket a massive boost by playing at Lord’s in the final of the nPower National Village Knockout took another step towards reality on Sunday as they beat Flintshire club Northop by 25 runs.
The village side now face a trip to Warwickshire on August 1 to take on Fillongley in a quarter-final tie. That means another clash of dates with a Marston’s Shropshire Premier League fixture and a potential repeat of the controversy which marred the build-up to the Northop match.
League officials refused to allow Quatt to re-arrange Sunday’s league match with Trysull.
It meant that Quatt fielded their top side against Northop, with the second and third teams playing league fixtures at first and second XI event. Quatt are due at title-chasing Madeley in the league at the same time that they face Fillongley.
“We had a brief chat about it after beating Northop, but the main focus was on the celebrations,” said Craig Jones, captain of the knockout team.
“I’m sure there will be negotiations about the Madeley game and so we will see what happens. To reach the last eight of the knockout for the first time is a great achievement and we are all delighted.
“We are only two games away from Lord’s now and we have a good chance of getting there.”
Quatt batted first and and built up a commanding total of 228-4 from their 40 overs, with league captain Adrian Evans top scoring with 65 as he shared in a 110-run opening stand with Nathan Hakeman. Dave Street was unbeaten on 48 while Craig Jones made 40.
Northop stayed up with the run rate throughout, but lost regular wickets as they were dismissed for 203 in the 38th over.
Seamer Gareth Jones – cousin of Craig – was the Quatt hero, taking six wickets, including three in two overs during his second spell as Northop were threatening to get on top.
Ironically the first XI fixture against Trysull was abandoned without a ball being bowled, because the replacement pitch at Worfield was ruled unfit by the umpires.
The second team game between the sides was easily won by Trysull, with Quatt forced to field a mixture of third XI players and under-17s.
Quatt were bowled out for just 26 after Trysull had totalled 242-7.