CUMBERLAND earned top spot in group three of the Unicorns Trophy and a home quarter-final tie after defeating Norfolk at Fakenham by six wickets with eight overs in hand.

Gary Pratt’s side will host Devon at Furness CC on Sunday, June 12 after they earned their third successive trophy victory to leave Norfolk facing a quarter-final trip to Staffordshire.

In the first Minor Counties game at the beautifully appointed Fakenham club, a large crowd saw Norfolk dismissed for 220 after a brilliant display of fielding by the visitors kept the score down on a typically fast scoring ground.

After Will Purser helped reduce the home side to 31 for 3 with two wickets on an impressive debut, Jordan Taylor (63) and Lewis Denmark (78) provided the backbone to the Norfolk innings with a stand of 98 before both fell victim to lbws for Toby Bulcock (3 for 51) with Bulcock also claiming two run out assists. Norfolk lost their last seven wickets for 91 runs in 18.2 overs after being invited to bat.

Cumberland slumped to 16 for 3 in reply, with Adam Todd claiming two wickets before Pratt and ex-Barrow star Jon Miles added 137 for the fourth wicket in only 27 overs.

Miles fell for 52 off 79 balls but Matt McKiernan joined his captain in the match winning unbroken stand of 71 in 9.3 overs.

Pratt finished unbeaten on 74 off 108 balls as McKiernan reached his maiden Cumberland half-century with an unbeaten 52 off 39 balls including six fours and three sixes, ending the game with three sixes and a four off four deliveries.