ASTWOOD Bank booked their place in the last 32 of the National Village Knockout Cup following a 76-run victory over Cheshire outfit Tattenhall on Sunday.

But there were a few anxious moments for the Worcestershire League Division One outfit, who lost opener Andy Clayton to the very first over of the match.

The Jill Lane side batted first but were soon in trouble on 27-2. Clayton's dismissal, for lbw, came before a run had been scored and when skipper Dan Evans (2) was sent back to the pavilion, the omens looked bleak.

Pete Alexander chipped in with 11 but the visitors, who play their cricket in Division Two of the Cheshire County League - a level above Astwood Bank - appeared to be in control.

The turning point came when opener Stefan Jagielski (56)was joined at the crease by Alex Robinson (66) and the pair began to pile on the runs.

Steve Clarke then hit a quick-fire 45 off 26 balls while Andy Alexander also played his part with a powerful 29 off just 17 balls as the home side put on 95 off the final 10 overs on the way to a total of 224-7.

In reply, Tattenhall's start was equally sluggish with the pace of Dennis Freeman and the off-spin of John Summers causing them all sorts of problems.

Freeman took vital wickets early on (3-28), while Paul Boycott returned useful figures of 4-31.

The Cheshire side were always off the run rate and were all out for 148 in their final over.

Astwood Bank will now meet Woodhouses in the next ring, the Oldham-based side making the trip to Worcestershire on Sunday, July 17.