JAMAL Mohammed hit what Bury captain Karl Belston described as a "chanceless" unbeaten century to help power Bury into the unknown in the Lancashire Knockout.

The Radcliffe Road men reached the quarter-finals of the county cup competition for the first time in their history after Jamal smashed 110 from 128 balls to steer Bury to 220-8 against Clitheroe.

Alex Breckin, who hit 33 in a decisive sixth-wicket partnership of 102 with Jamal, then took 4-25 as the home side bowled out the reigning Ribblesdale League champions for 167.

The 53-run victory set up another home tie in the last eight against Pennine League strugglers Monton & Weaste.

On paper, the quarter-final match-up looks more winnable than Bury's last-16 tie, but after comprehensively beating a Clitheroe side that turned over GMCL Premier Division leaders Prestwich by nine wickets in the previous round, Belston is not taking anything for granted.

"We certainly won't be getting carried away with ourselves because I think we showed against Clitheroe that anything is possible in cup cricket," he said.

"It is about which team turns up on the day and shows the most bottle.

"So where Monton are in the league doesn't matter to us. We are fourth bottom of the Greater Manchester Premier Division and have just beaten a side that wiped the floor with our league's leaders Prestwich."

Bury gave themselves a mountain to climb after the top three batsmen in their order were sent back to the pavilion with just 21 on the board.

But Jamal came in at number four and put together a superb innings, hitting eight sixes and three fours to see out the remainder of Bury's 45 overs.

Opening bowler Neil Tong took a wicket with his very first ball as he and Breckin bowled well in tandem before Clitheroe's Aneeq Hassan (64) and Janak Guneratne (34) steadied the ship.

Both men were run out and Clitheroe collapsed from 141-4 to lose their final six wickets for just 26 runs.

"It was a fantastic day for the club and has to rank as one of our greatest achievements," said Belston.

"The sun coming out seemed to kick it all off. We had a barbecue going and a great crowd from both clubs, with quite a bit of banter throughout the day.

"It was a real big team effort, but you have to say Jamal's chanceless 110 not out was an absolutely top-class innings.

"And Alex Breckin showed his talent with both bat and ball. He is really progressing nicely and had a chance of a hat-trick late in their innings, which would have just capped it all off."

Bury are the last remaining side from the Bury area in the competition after Ramsbottom were knocked out by Lancashire League rivals Lowerhouse, losing away from home by three wickets.