Wanstead & Snaresbrook are two more victories away from a National Club Championship final appearance after reaching the last eight with a 55-run Duckworth Lewis win over Swardeston on Sunday.

The Essex League Premier Division side will now face High Wycombe in the quarter-finals at Overton Drive on Sunday, August 6 when Joe Ellis-Grewal’s men will be aiming to reach the last four.

Following a major effort to get that game played due to the heavy rain at the weekend, Wanstead chose to field after winning the toss against the Norfolk club.

It quickly proved to be the correct decision as Zain Shahzad (2-25) and Jack Lord (2-18) ripped through the top and middle order to leave Swardeston in big trouble at 26-6.

Thanks primarily to Lewis Denmark’s unbeaten 59 at six – and the lower-order contributions of Matthew Taylor (28) and Michael Eccles (11) – they recovered to post 142-9 from their 45 overs.

A quick-fire 26 from Shahzad ensured Wanstead were well ahead of the required run rate in reply as fellow opener Hassan Chowdhury top-scored with 34.

When the rain returned to bring a premature end to proceedings after 21 overs, the home side were comfortably in front on Duckworth Lewis on 115-3 with Kishen Velani (28 not out) and Arfan Akram (11 not out) the unbeaten batsmen.