In a very evenly-contested Hospital Cup quarter-final tie, Ickwell came through to beat Thurleigh by ten runs on Monday night to reach the semis.

Batting first, their innings was dominated by opener Jon Cole-Edwardes who was the third man out when he was bowled by R Steen for 51 with the score on 82.

A couple of well struck sixes by Paul Heads and Adrian Ratcliffe helped Ickwell to finish with 123-5 from their 16 overs.
When Thurleigh came to bat they got off to a good start and after seven overs were within one run of Ickwell's score at the same stage but without loss.

But then Asif Hussain came on to bowl and with his very first ball dismissed C Wood as he took a return catch.

In his next over Asif took another two wickets to put Ickwell in charge while in the next there was more trouble for the visitors as Steen was brilliantly run out by a direct hit on the stumps from the narrowest of angles by Ross Fensome.

In this same over Adrian Ratcliffe clean bowled Bailey to leave the visitors on 63-5 with only 32 balls remnaining and needing 61 runs to win.

The next over from Ratcliffe yielded 17 runs and the game became more evenly-balanced again.

But despite the best efforts of Arch and Milne, Thurleigh eventually fell short by ten runs in what had been an enthralling contest.

Ickwell now face holders Biggleswade for a place in the final which is scheduled to be played at Bedford Modern School on Tuesday, July 8.