Last updated at 14:07, Tuesday, 19 June 2012

CUMBERLAND’S cricketers are ready to go the distance in their bid for Minor Counties Trophy glory.

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Having made an epic 800-mile plus round trip to dispose of Cornwall in the quarter-finals on Sunday, Gary Pratt’s men now face another mammoth road journey to Dorest in the semis of the one-day competition.

And team manager Ian Sharp says the county players are eager to go one better than last year, when Cumberland were beaten in the last-four at Berkshire.

“It’s going to be another long round-trip of about 640 miles, but at least it’s a bit shorter than going to Cornwall and back!” said Sharp.

“It’s crazy from a safety and financial point of view that we are having to travel these distances for one-day games and we are putting together a case for the Minor Counties Cricket Association, because we feel the whole structure needs reorganising.

“Despite all the travelling, the players are determined to go one step further this year and make the final.”

Cumberland beat Cornwall by 119 runs on Sunday to book their semi-final place, with Barrow CC duo Jon Miles and Ryan Brown playing their part in the victory.

The team travelled through the night by bus to reach Truro in the early hours of Sunday morning.

They then shook off any signs of tiredness by posting a score 224-7, with opener Josh Tolley hitting an unbeaten 100, before dismissing the hosts for just 105.

Sharp said: “It was very pleasing because we bossed the game from ball one.

“We prepared and organised properly, played professionally with great team spirit and, as a result, got the outcome we deserved.

“Cornwall were quite shell-shocked. I think they expected we would turn up like country bumpkins, but we were professional throughout and played very well.

“The bus was buzzing on the way home!”

Dorset, meanwhile, won by 77 runs in their quarter-final at Cheshire.

The semi-final will be played on Sunday, July 1. Before then, Cumberland have a three-day Minor Counties Championship Eastern Division game against Lincolnshire, to be played at Furness CC, starting this Sunday.

First published at 13:44, Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk