After winning the toss and inserting the visitors, HCC took regular wickets throughout. Harry H claimed two in an excellent opening spell, while Dilly (2-11) and George H (2-20) also picked up braces. Les and Mubs were also among the wickets and, with Mubs adding two run-outs, Belhus were dismissed for 111.

In reply, HCC looked to be cruising at 96-4 before, in true HCC style, three quick wickets — including George and Dilly in successive balls — left a few nerves jangling. Gav and Mubs held firm, though, seeing the side home and into the quarter-finals. Muz top-scored with 26, with the draw now awaited.

Over at Cromer Road, a youthful 4th XI took on Goresbrook and romped to a resounding 10-wicket win. Under-14 AJ Junaid led the way with the ball, returning outstanding figures of 7-2-13-5. He was well supported by Nathan Bowles (3-32), while Shehzad continued his excellent start to life at the club with another two wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 106.

With rain forecast, Stan and Lance got the chase off to a flyer and never let up, racing to the target inside 14 overs. Stan struck ten fours in a fluent unbeaten half-century, while Mr Sharrock finished 33 not out as HCC sealed the win and got everything packed away before the wet stuff arrived.

Attention now turns to next weekend and the start of the league season, with five games on Saturday followed by a National Cup tie against Horsford on Sunday.