THERE were contrasting emotions at teatime on Sunday as Astwood Bank celebrated passage into the last 16 of the National Knockout Cup but Exhall and Wixford's adventure came to an end.

Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Powys champs the Bank did it again against their Northamptonshire counterparts Rushton.

Despite the exertions of Saturday's emphatic Worcestershire County League win at home to Oldswinford and a long away day, Alex Robinson's side rose to the challenge to book themselves a trip to Nottinghamshire title winners Plumtree.

The visitors will start as underdogs against a side playing in Division 1A of the Gunn and Moore South Nottinghamshire Cricket League.

A bumper crowd of around 250 cheered the hosts on to 203 for nine with Andy Clayton again leading the way after his 103 in Saturday's 133 run over Oldswinford.

Rushton met the run rate for the opening 20 overs of their reply and looked to be favourites with eight wickets in hand but Jon Summers set up victory with an economical spell which forced the visitors to show their hand.

Paul Boycott (3-30) and Dan Sealey (3-23) took advantage as Rushton were bowled for 154.

Bank are in action in the last 16 on Sunday, July 20 and return to league action at Romsley and Hunnington on Saturday (2pm start) knowing a win would cut into leaders Brockhampton's 45 point lead.

Neighbours Exhall and Wixford's sally into the national competition came to an end away to Shropshire, Staffordshire and West Midlands champs Draycott and Hanbury.

Exhall skipper Scott Carmichael was confident after holding the big-hitting hosts to 194 but the Leicestershire and Warwickshire champs were unable to complete the run chase and finished 170-8.

Exhall won Saturday's derby against Bidford comfortably, setting a 248-4 target which the hosts could only halve, finishing 124-3.

The result leaves Exhall fourth, 35 points behind leaders Stratford Bards.

"If we win all our remaining games we will win the title," added the Exhall skipper.

That run starts at home to Tanworth-in-Arden on Saturday (2pm start).