CRICKET: Brilliant Goatacre march on
12:00pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in Sport By Dan Barnes
GOATACRE’S Ed Wilkins says team spirit has been the driving force behind his side’s sensational charge to the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup.
The villagers swept aside Berkshire’s Wraysbury by 130 runs on Sunday to move to within one win of a third appearance at Lord’s, in the competition they won in both 1988 and 1990.
Wilkins, 26, smashed 126 from 116 balls, and said: “It’s such a massive competition for the club because they got the final twice all those years ago and to be in the last four again is just amazing.
“The win on Sunday ended up being pretty comfortable and it was nice to be the one getting the century after my brother (Jif) the day before (in the league victory over Weston-super-Mare on Saturday).
“The team we’ve got this year have all been together for a few years and our team spirit is incredible.
“I’ve played cricket and football but I’ve never seen a dressing room like it – we’re all mates and we all do stuff together.’’
Goatacre are due to host Hertfordshire outfit Reed in their semi-final clash on August 12 and Wilkins and his brother Jif are looking to follow in the footsteps of father John, who is now the club’s groundsman, by playing at Lord’s.
Veteran Kev Iles, who scored a century at Lord’s 22 years ago, took five wickets to seal victory.
