Wycombe close in on a perfect return

Paul Woodruff and David Taylor ensured that High Wycombe's return to club cricket's premier knockout competition continued in style.

The Buckinghamshire side reached the last four of the £12,000 Evening Standard Challenge Trophy with a seven-wicket victory over BWIA Cavaliers.

Woodruff took five for 15 as the Cavaliers were bundled out for 123 and Taylor then smashed 52 from 32 deliveries as Wycombe raced into the semi-finals of the 50-over Sunday event.

This is the club's first year back in the tournament after being dropped for two seasons.

Chairman Richard Morgan said: "We couldn't raise a side in the first round against East Grinstead in 1999 and were forced to scratch. We were excluded for two years, quite rightly, but we took our punishment and came back this year determined to give it our best shot." Sunday's victory means the Home Counties League leaders have reached their second major semi-final in successive seasons.

Last year Wycombe made the last four of the National Knockout Cup.

Morgan said: "We have made tremendous strides in the last few years on and off the pitch.

"There's a lot of homegrown talent here, supplemented by some good experienced cricketers from outside. Our aim is to be one of the top clubs in the country." Captain Jason Harrison, five years on the Middlesex staff in the Nineties, missed the victory over the Cavaliers with a groin injury but should be fit for the semi-final on 25 August when a place in the final at The Oval will be up for grabs.

One man who knows the way to The Oval is Greg Pooley, who collected a winners' medal and a top score of 68 not out in Finchley's 2000 triumph over Uxbridge.

Wycombe are the only team through to the semi-finals. The quarter-finals between Teddington andWimbledon and Bexley and Brentham were washed out at the weekend and will be held on Sunday.