A thriving Wiltshire village cricket club is just one match away from a final at Lord’s cricket ground in London, known as the ‘home of cricket’.
Potterne CC scored a six-wicket victory at home to Aston Rowant CC from Oxfordshire on Sunday, July 31 in the quarter-finals of the English Cricket Board’s Club Championship.
They now go on to play Bexley CC in Kent away in the semi-finals – and if they win, they could be playing Nantwich CC or Wallasey CC in the final at Lord’s.
Club chairman Fred Kerley, 66, said: “It’s a fantastic result for the club to reach this stage of the ECB Club Championship. I am over the moon.
“I can’t believe where we are and what we have done. I am so proud of the team and the support from the village has been excellent throughout the competition.
“It’s the furthest that any cricket club from west Wiltshire has gone. Many thanks to the 350 people who turned up to support us at The Grove on Sunday.”
Potterne CC were already celebrating after having beaten their great rivals Bath CC in the third round of the Club Championship.
They are now cock a hoop at reaching the semi-finals on Sunday, August 21 – and hope to make it through to the final on September 17 at the Marylebone CC home ground.
Potterne are captained by Basil Akram and the team includes opening batter Jake Goodwin, who has scored more than 1,000 runs in the league and cup this season.
Medium-pace bowler Chris Aubrey is the West of England Premier League Premier One's top wicket-taker this season.
The club was formed in 1936 and prides itself on being a very friendly, sociable place to play cricket.
Mr Kerley said: “We run four Senior Saturday XI's - the 1st and 2nd XI's play in Premier One and WEPL Wiltshire of the West of England Premier League, our 3rd and 4th XI's play in the Wiltshire Cricket League.
“We are also one of 18 ECB Focus Clubs in the County - an acknowledgement that we are helping the English Cricket Board deliver excellence in cricket coaching and provision of opportunity for junior cricketers.”
The club are second only to Bath in the WEPL Premier One as their big rivals are unbeaten so far this season.
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