We are just two days away from one of the biggest games in our club history to date as we welcome two-time National Village champions Goatacre to Loperwood Park in the last 16 of the competition on Sunday.

It has been an incredible run to get to this stage and we are just three wins away from a dream trip to Lord’s – but know that the challenge of the Wiltshire champions will be a tough one.

The Calne-based side have gotten past Aldbourne in round one, both Horningsham and Parley by walkovers and Burbage and Easton Royal in the regional final by 47 runs before seeing off Congresbury by a mammoth 124 runs in round five.

Currently top of the West of England Premier League Division 2 (Gloucestershire & Wiltshire) with six wins and three defeats to their name, Wiltshire left-hander Jack Haines poses a threat at the top of the order for the visitors – a player in fine form after crashing 148 off 90 balls last Saturday in the league game against Burbage and Easton Royal.  He has 613 runs this season at 55.73 and a strike rate of 125.87 for the first XI this season.

Captain and keeper Jack Twine is likely to open the batting with him and had 105 runs in the competition this season while all-rounder Bradley Dawson – brother of Hampshire and England’s Liam – another who plays Minor Counties cricket with Wiltshire has 323 runs and 13 wickets to his name so far this season.

With the ball, David Miles has an impressive 20 wickets across all formats this season and is Goatacre’s leading wicket-taker with 10 for just 51 runs in the competition this season.

It promises to be quite a contest with Mark Lavelle’s side sitting third in the comparative level league and, hopefully weather permitting, a healthy home crowd at Loperwood Park giving them a boost, they can make it to the quarter-finals.

The game starts at 1pm on Sunday – the club asks that if you are coming to the game, please try and car share.  The bar will be open, the BBQ fired up and rearing to go and a warm welcome awaits.

#FTM

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