Leeds & Broomfield (Alastair Cowe, with thanks)
Hook & Newnham Basics eliminate former champions Goatacre
There will be a new name on the Voneus Village Cup trophy in 2023 following the exit of two-time champions Goatacre at the hands of Hook & Newnham Basics, writes Mike Vimpany.
Hook booked their place in the last eight with a comprehensive seven-wicket in at King George V Ground.
A 131-run opening stand between Sam Lockwood (69) and Harry Warner, who was unbeaten on 69, took Hook to within sight of Goatacre’s 220 all out – a target they chased down with almost four overs to spare.
Click here for the full report.
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Barkby United defeat Loddington & Mawsley by the narrowest of margins
In the last 16 of the 2023 Voneus Village Cup, in a local derby, Barkby United (Leicestershire) defeated Loddington & Mawsley (Northants) by the narrowest of margins, writes Philip Wilcox.
In a tense game which went to the very last ball, it was Barkby United’s final pair, Scott Moore and Adam Cookson, who somehow managed to scramble through for the run which meant the scores ended level, with Barkby United triumphing by virtue of losing fewer wickets.
In a match of small margins, Loddington & Mawsley may well regret the late flurry of wickets, which saw them fall from 214 for 6 to 218 all out with 10 balls left unbowled, and they may well rue the extras (15) they conceded in Barkby United’s reply.
Barkby United’s Tom Flowers [Philip Wilcox]
Tailenders to the rescue as Grampound Road beat Horspath
Grampound Road kept their dreams of going to Lord’s alive with a terrific fightback to claim an exciting 14-run victory at home to Horspath in the Voneus Village Cup sixth round, writes Russell Smith.
The Devon & Cornwall champions were in dire straits at 121 for 9 in the 33rd over with their Oxfordshire visitors taking charge with the ball. But then the home side’s last pair of Martin Roberts (33 not out) and captain David Neville (25) shared a stand of 47 from 43 balls to take the Roadies to 168 all out off 40 overs.
It was a massive momentum swing as the hosts went into the tea interval in buoyant mood while Horspath were left deflated. Even so, the target should have been in the visitors’ grasp on a good batting pitch with a short boundary on one side of the windswept ground.
Click here for the full report.
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Leeds & Broomfield march on to quarter-finals
Leeds & Broomfield booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Voneus Village Cup with a comfortable six-wicket win over 2020 finalists Redbourn.
The Kent champions struck early, with Neil Dibben removing Conor Yorath for four, and while a number of Redbourn batters made starts, runs proved hard to come by – No.3 George Cutler faced 62 balls for his 29.
The wicket of Jack Cobb, pinned lbw by Phillip Semmens in the 25th over, triggered a batting collapse, with Redbourn slumping from 108 for 3 to 128 for 9 in a little over five overs.
However, an unbeaten 53-run stand between Alex Salter (28 off 36) and Daniel Darvell (20 off 28) restored the home side’s hopes of victory, setting Leeds & Broomfield a target of 182.
Player of the round Max Aitken (Leeds & Broomfield)
Elsewhere…
Ernie Collinson (61 and 2 for 34) impressed with bat and ball as Shireshead & Forton defeated Ainsdale by 25 runs. The Cumbria & North Lancashire champions will face Stayley in the quarter-finals after they hammered Patrington by 106 runs. Kamran Basharat starred with 5 for 35.
Liam Mitchell scored a century in a losing cause as South Wingfield lost to Milford Hall by six wickets while in the south-east, Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers completed a 30-run win over Woolpit. The home side collapsed form 171 for 2 to 202 all out, with Nuwan Jayasena collecting 5 for 36.
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Player of the round: Max Aitken (Leeds & Broomfield)
From centuries in a losing cause to tailenders rescuing their side’s innings, there was no shortage of star turns in round six of the 2023 Voneus Village Cup. However, it’s Leeds & Broomfield’s Max Aitken who collects the player of the round award for his all-round performance against Redbourn.
Aitken made an immediate impact upon his introduction to the bowling attack, removing George Cutler (29 off 62) with just his second ball of the day.
He went on to pick up a further three wickets, including removing Dan Roe and Callum Moyle with consecutive deliveries, as Redbourn collapsed from 108 for 3 to 128 for 9, finishing with figures of 4 for 35.
However, not content with his bowling effort, Aitken scored an unbeaten 84 (79) at the top of the order to see his side to a comfortable six-wicket win with 10.3 overs to spare.
Click here to read the full report.
Voneus Village Cup 2023 Roll of Honour
Voneus Village Cup 2023 batting and bowling leaders
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