THE Worcestershire County League defeated the Staffordshire Clubs League by 75 runs at Old Elizabethans CC, Worcester in the quarter-final of the Midland Club Cricket Conference Inter League Knock-Out competition.

In a 45-over match Staffs won the toss and asked Worcestershire to bat.

After losing two quick wickets Sean Cairney (Old Elizabethans) was joined by Andy Law (Oldswinford) and they put together a stand of 85 in 20 overs.

After the loss of Law (44) and three quick wickets, one of whom was Cairney (64), Rob Francis (Malvern) came into bat with only eight overs left but smashed a magnificent 58no from only 31 balls to help Worcestershire finish on 228-8.

D. Price of Staffs scored 46 out of 67 runs in the first 10 overs, but Andy Farmer (Belbroughton) dismissed both openers in his six-over spell of 2-19.

Good spells were recorded by Darren Freeman (Pedmore) 4-32 and Mark Bennett (Bewdley) 2-26. Appropriately Francis (1-15) came back to take the final wicket with Staffs bowled out for 153 in the 38th over.

Worcestershire will be at home in the semi-final and potentially face a return match with the Notts Premier League who won a close quarter-final last year.