Thriplow put the disappointment of Saturday behind them, when the game was called off for rain with Great Shelford 54 for 7, to beat Hethersett & Tas Valley in the National Village Cup on Sunday.

Beating the weather and choosing to bat on a pitch likely to get slower over the course of the day, the top order again failed to make significant contributions, with the exception of captain Alastair Cliffe, whose 39 was his best innings of a still-embryonic season. With his departure at 96 for 5, a challenging total looked unlikely but Chris Viner (34 not out, with uncharacteristic restraint) and Andrew Woolley (17) batted very sensibly, the innings finally closing on 178 for 9 off 40 overs.

Jack Upton and pinch-spinner Robert Craze made immediate inroads in the Tas Valley reply, with both openers removed for ducks. Shipley and Curtis threatened a revival with a partnership of 50 but Richie Turner, albeit bowling without his usual control, removed them both to return figures of 4 for 33 and with Woolley repeating his batting heroics with 1 for 15, Tas Valley were all out in blazing early-evening sunshine for 114 in the 31st over.

Either Wilburton or Milton, whose game was called off, await in the next round on 27 May, following an all-expenses-paid mid-season bonding trip to the Algarve (AKA Tickell Arms beer festival) where the Two Jacks will try not to get arrested for stealing a taxi.