THEALE & Tilehurst CC (97-3 from 12 eight-ball overs) extended their strong winter record by progressing to the last 16 of the National Indoor Cricket Championships on Saturday.

The Berkshire champions secured victory over their Middlesex counterparts Winchmore Hill (82) at Finchley by 15 runs, after a man-of-match performance from captain Andrew Sharp (25 retired and 1-11, including a wicket maiden).

He said: “Home advantage in these rounds is enormous due to the way the size and conditions of venues vary significantly. This is the first time we have won away at this stage of the national competition, which is a huge achievement.

“We were put into bat first and batted very sensibly, keeping wickets in hand and accelerating towards the end of the innings; bowled very tightly, giving nothing away; and fielded superbly, with four run outs. It was a brilliant all-round team performance, against very strong opposition.”

The club has won the Berkshire league four out of the last five seasons and went on an imperious run of form in 2017, winning all but one of their 16 games to win the Berkshire title.

Success at the south east regional finals day at Canterbury on March 4 could see Theale & Tilehurst progress to the national Finals Day at Lord’s.

  • PURLEY ON THAMES CC will begin their bid to reach a Lord’s final when they visit Binfield in the opening round of the National Village Cup.

If Andrew Clarke’s men are successful on April 29, they will then have another home game against Donnington in round two a fortnight later.

In the semi finals of the Berkshire section, the Potters would be at home to either White Waltham or last summer’s regional champions Cookham Dean.

Five sides make up the other half of Group 25, with Wraysbury hosting Datchet in the first round before the winners have a home tie against Peppard Stoke Row.

The other second round fixture sees Wargrave welcome Pinkneys Green to their Recreation Road ground.

A total of 300 sides are going for glory across the country, with the final due to be played at Lord’s on Sunday, September 16.

Hertfordshire-based Reed won the competition last summer, beating Sessay, from Yorkshire, in the final.