Pictured:
Cheshire batsman Ben Spendlove starred with an unbeaten 82 not
outCHESHIRE are just one win away from qualifying for this season's MCCA Knockout Trophy quarter-finals.
Andy Hall's side cruised to an impressive six-wicket victory at home to group leaders Staffordshire in their penultimate qualifying match at the weekend.
And with victory must now beat Cumberland - who have yet to win a match - in their last group match on Sunday, away at Netherfield Cricket Club (11am start), to make sure of their progress to the next stage.
Cheshire were done a welcome favour after Shropshire upset Northumberland with a surprise 45 runs victory to leave the group wide open with one more round of matches left to play.
And Hall knows that if his side can inflict a fourth successive defeat on Cumberland they are assured a place in the next stage.
Staffordshire face Shropshire in the only other match to be completed in Group 1, so Cheshire's fate is very much in their own hands.
The only way Cheshire would not qualify is if they lose or if their match is rained off.
"It's in our hands, we know we've got to win and we're confident going into the game," revealed Hall.
"I was really proud of the way the players bounced back from our defeat to Northumberland the other weekend, we needed a win to keep our hopes alive and we played very well."
Having lost the toss and been asked to field, Cheshire bowled well and restricted Staffordshire to 200 all out in 48.4 overs.
New signing Richard Logan did the bulk of the damage with a fine 5-34 return from 10 overs, while all-rounder Nathan Dumelow impressed with 2-22 from nine overs.
Liam Hughes top-scored with 70 for Staffs, while Greg Willott struck an unbeaten 41.
Logan now has ten wickets in three matches, while there were also important scalps for Adam Syddall - who recovered from a badly-bruised hand to play - and wickets for Rick Moore and Jonny Fawcett.
And in reply Cheshire wasted no time in chasing down the runs as they won with eight overs to spare.
Oulton Park batsman Ben Spendlove led the way with a brilliant unbeaten 83, while Hyde's hard-hitting left-hander James Duffy contributed 51.
Dumelow contributed 23 not out at the death as he and Spendlove saw Cheshire win with six wickets still in the shed.
Earlier Hyde all-rounder Daniel Berry missed out with a hand-injury, while Neston bowler James Hawley was also omitted from the 13-man squad.
This Sunday Cheshire will be without opening batsman Warren Goodwin who has exam commitments, with the country trying to get Lancashire 2nd XI player Chris Tipper to take his place.
Berry is definitely not available having thought to have broken a bone in his hand.
Cheshire team:
Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall)
Rick Moore (Oulton Park)
Andy Hall (Bramhall) - captain
Ben Spendlove (Oulton Park)
Louis Bentley (Oulton Park)
Nathan Dumelow (Oulton Park) - vice captain
James Duffy (Hyde) - wicketkeeper
Jonny Fawcett (Didsbury)
Richard Logan (Chichester)
Adam Syddall (Bowdon)
Matt Dawson (Bramhall) - wicketkeeper
Scorer: Jim Law