Yorkshire pair take Wimbledon over Dartford crossing

14 April 2012

Wimbledon have booked a place in the quarter-finals of club cricket's premier knock-out tournament, thanks to a touch of Yorkshire grit.

Leading the way in their seven-wicket victory over Dartford in the fourth round of the £12,000 Evening Standard Challenge Trophy were Yorkshiremen Richard Pearson and Jonathan Wileman, who made telling contributions with bat and ball.

The Surrey League champions, for so long the great under-achievers in the 50-over Sunday event featuring the London area's 112 teams, punched their weight effectively as they reached the last eight of the competition.

Former Essex and Surrey off-spinner Pearson followed up his four for 16 at Richmond in the previous round with four for 30 as Dartford were bowled out for 200. Then it was the turn of Wileman to show his steel with the bat.

The former Nottinghamshire player hit 98 not out, with fine support from Sean Davies (70 not out) in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 175 after Wimbledon had wobbled at 28 for three. Wileman takes a batting average of 219 into the quarter-finals on 3 August, when Wimbledon will face a battle of the heavyweights at home to Radlett. It was quite a weekend for Wileman as he also scored a century in Saturday's League match against Banstead.

Finchley are the only former champions left in the draw and their reward for a three-wicket victory at Beaconsfield is a home tie against Lordswood, who beat Wanstead by 29 runs.

Beaconsfield were bowled out for 96, with Keerthi Ranasinghe taking five wickets for just three runs off 7.5 overs.

Captain Jake Milton said: "Keerthi's first six overs were all maidens and they included three wickets, so he was a bit expensive after that. He didn't bowl a single bad ball. Keerthi may be 39 but he's still very fit."

Brondesbury, champions in 1997 and 1999, fell by three wickets against BWIA Cavaliers. "It was a great all-round team effort, I'm proud of the boys," said Cavaliers manager Frank David, whose side next face a trip to Bexley, conquerors of the 1995 champions Malden Wanderers.

The Middlesex League is guaranteed a team in the semifinals as Hampstead are drawn at home to Enfield. Hampstead romped home by nine wickets against Basingstoke after Gary Headley (78) and Mark Harvey (51 not out) shared another century opening partnership. They put on 112 in 16 overs.

4th Rnd results: Finchley (100-7) bt Beaconsfield (96) by 3 wkts, Hampstead (151-1) bt Basingstoke (150) by 9 wkts, Enfield (150-5) bt Walton-on-Thames (148-8) by 5 wkts, Wimbledon (204-3) bt Dartford (200) by 7 wkts, Lordswood (182-8) bt Wanstead (153) by 29 runs, Radlett (186-9) bt Beckenham (120) by 66 runs, BWIA Cavaliers (191-7) bt Brondesbury (190-9) by 3 wkts, Bexley (219-6) bt Malden Wanderers (215) by 4 wkts Quarter-finals: Hampstead v Enfield, Wimbledon v Radlett, Finchley v Lordswood, Bexley v BWIA Cavaliers (ties to be played on 3 August) Other dates: Semi-finals - 17 August Final - 14 September (at The Oval)

For further information and results see: www.capitalcounty.com/eveningstandard

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Yorkshire pair take Wimbledon over Dartford crossing

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