HORWICH, inspired by Dean Morris, reached the last 16 of the ECB’s National Knockout with a remarkable win at Preston side Longridge last Sunday, recovering from 104-9 in pursuit of 156.

Morris starred for Horwich’s second team on Saturday and did so again for the firsts 24 hours later, taking four wickets and then hitting an unbeaten 78 to set up a trip to North Yorkshire side Richmondshire, who won the competition last year.

Sublime Morris shared an unbroken 52 for the last wicket with another second-team player, Sam Little, who only faced four balls in the partnership and did not score.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in 40 years,” said cricket manager David White.

The Richmondshire clash is due to be played on Sunday, July 21, but that could yet change as Horwich and the Bolton League try to juggle the club’s congested fixture schedule.