WHEATLEY Park School Under 13s continued their impressive run in the David English/Bunbury Cup by reaching the last eight with an emphatic win over King Edward’s School (Birmingham) at Tiddington CC.
Having previously ousted Bedford and Oakham in the independent school-dominated national competition, the Wheatley Park youngsters eased through the third-round tie with an eight-wicket victory.
Now they will face Packwood Haugh, from Ruyton XI Towns midway between Oswestry and Shrewsbury, in the Midland final, with the winners going on to the national semi-finals.
Dylan Driscoll (63no) and George Crawford (47) shared an excellent second-wicket stand of 115 to set Wheatley Park up for victory after they had put King Edward’s in to bat and restricted them to 145-8 from 35 overs.
With 20 still required off the final four overs, Saif Dogar hit his first three balls straight back down the ground for boundaries on the way to making an unbeaten 18 from seven deliveries.
Fittingly, it was then left to Driscoll to smash the winning four through square leg as Wheatley Park secured a sensational victory with 2.5 overs to spare.
Earlier, Driscoll and captain Charlie Turner had produced accurate opening spells as King Edward’s were held to 15-1 from the first ten overs.
The Birmingham lads gradually stepped up the pace, but it wasn’t enough to stop Wheatley Park marching on.
Scores: King Edward 145-8 (35ovs, A Khan 56), Wheatley Park 149-2 (32.1ovs, D Driscoll 63no, G Crawford 47).
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