THE 'dream is alive' for Aston Ingham Cricket Club after they made it through to the last eight of the Village Knock-Out Cup with an 11-run win away to Northamptonshire side Loddington & Mawsley.

And just two wins away from a Lord’s final, skipper James Wagstaff said: "Wow! What can I say. What a wonderful day. The dream is alive and we now welcome Dumbleton in two weeks to Aston to what should be a fabulous occasion for the club.

"The game was everything you could ask as a spectator. It ebbed and flowed, and having had four away games in the VKO and the wonderful support of a packed bus, it shows what a club we have. The support was immense."

Aston won the toss and elected to bat, Alexander Gooding firing 22 before being bowled in the 10th over (32-1).

Oliver Henson and new man Anthony James added another 32 before the former holed out for 24 (64-2), with fourth man Angus Bartlett then forming a 41-run third-wicket partnership.

James was then stumped for a top score 36, which included seven fours (105-3), shortly followed by Bartlett lbw for 17 (108-4).

But Josh Loade added 34 with Jack Carpenter before holing out for a brisk 26 off 27 balls (142-5).

Dan Smith followed in short order, run out for a single (145-6), but Carpenter with 26 helped them to a final total of 168-8 off 40 overs.

Early wickets for Toby O'Neill and Alex Gooding had the hosts at 34-2 in reply before Bartlett dismissed their danger man opener for 26, caught and bowled (76-3).

Loddington & Mawsley passed the 100 mark with some 14 overs left, but the game turned in the 28th over, James taking two wickets in four balls to make it 106-5, followed next over by Wagstaff running out the opposing skipper for a duck (107-6).

Two overs later it was 110-7 when Toby O'Neill bowled run-maker James Esler for 35.

And when Dave Lacey clutched a catch off O’Neill’s bowling to make it 119-8, Aston were right on top.

But the hosts fought back again, reaching 134 before Dan Smith bowled the 10th man, leaving 35 to win off 3.3 overs with a wicket left.

And a Josh Loade run out on the final ball left them high and dry on 157 all out, sparking scenes of celebration from the Aston team and their supporters.