SHIPLEY HALL are now two wins from Lord's after a nailbiting win against Quatt, in Shropshire, in the Npower Village Cup.

The final margin was 18 runs but the Derbyshire side had to hold their nerve, as their hosts had looked favourites for large parts of the contest.

That was certainly the case when both Shipley openers departed for ducks.

Mark Starr and captain James Cokayne grafted to add 44 but both were gone by the halfway point in the innings, with Shipley in trouble at 79-5.

From there, John Buckley battled through to the end of the innings with 25 not out and others chipped in, not least Dan Haddon, whose 23 not out helped to add what proved a vital 39 in the last five overs for a total of 159-7.

Tight bowling and fielding kept Quatt to 51-3 at the halfway mark and, at 99-4 with eight overs left, they began to lose wickets when they attempted an acceleration.

Haddon took 4-41 and Quatt were left needing 20 from the last two overs.

Then Josh Buckley put the issue beyond doubt with a superb over, conceding only one run, and Cokayne was able to run out Quatt's last man without further addition in the last over.

“It was a great game and another marvellous win,” said Cokayne.

“We bowled and fielded superbly and took all our catches – one, by Josh Buckley, to send back one of their dangerous lower order hitters, was actually the best catch I have seen in 25 years of playing cricket.”

Shipley now face another away trip, on Sunday, July 27, to face Lancashire side Woodhouses, who beat Warwickshire's Fillongley.

Woodhouses were the first club of former England captain Mike Atherton and are captained by his brother Chris.