Stanmore set for one more try to settle tie

Stanmore and Havant will resume hostilities this weekend in their battle to reach the semi-finals of club cricket's National Knockout Cup.

The north Londoners must travel to Hampshire on Sunday to resolve a quarter-final which has already been abandoned twice in controversial circumstances.

The first tie, on 28 July, was called off after 10 overs when the umpires ruled the Stanmore wicket too dangerous to play on.

The England Cricket Board ordered a replay in Hampshire last Sunday, which was washed out three overs into Stanmore's reply to Havant's 185-8. The conditions prevented a bowl-out and Havant's claims that they should be awarded the tie were disputed by the Middlesex League club. It was referred to the ECB's operations manager, Frank Kemp, to make a ruling.

Kemp ordered another replay at Havant this Sunday, with a toss of the coin as a last resort to decide who faces Saffron Walden in the semi-finals. The other semi, between Guisborough and Barnt Green, takes place on Sunday.

"It's an extremely unfortunate situation but we must do all we can to resolve such an important match by cricketing methods," said Kemp. "Havant are not happy but the sanction against Stanmore has already been taken by depriving them of home advantage."