Treble chance beckons McKinlay's men

Andrew McKinlay is enjoying his first season as captain of Saffron Walden cricket club, and no wonder. The north Essex side are on schedule for an incredible treble.

Unbeaten runaway leaders of the Essex League, McKinlay's men are also involved in the latter stages of club cricket's two major cups, the National Knockout and the Evening Standard Challenge Trophy.

Saffron Walden reached the quarter finals of the National with a two-wicket victory at Cheam last Sunday and they can book a quarter-final place in the £12,000 Challenge Trophy this weekend by beating Dartford. "It's going very well so far," said McKinlay, a 33-year-old South African who joined the club nine years ago.

"But we can't afford to be complacent. We were in a similar position this time last year and ended up with nothing. You need a bit of luck along the way and we had some at Cheam."

McKinlay played a captain's innings of 32 to top score and steer his side out of trouble but there was only one delivery to spare when Jamie Sparrow struck the match-winning boundary. Now Saffron Walden must travel to Bath on Sunday week, with the winners facing Finchley or High Wycombe for a place in the National Knockout final at Lord's on 6 September.

Saffron Walden are the only team left in both major cups following Essex rivals Wanstead's embarrassing departure from the National at Finchley last Sunday.

Wanstead lost by 172 runs after being shot out for 36, with Roger Ford taking five for eight from his nine overs. They hope to put that behind them by reaching the Challenge Trophy quarter-finals this weekend, when they entertain Hertford. The tie of the round is the heavyweight clash between Brondesbury, champions in 1997 and 1999, and Surrey.

Evening Standard Challenge Trophy third-round result: Hertford (143-6) beat Wembley (142) by four wickets. Sunday's fourth- round line- up: Wanstead v Hertford, Dartford v Saffron Walden, Winchmore Hill v BWIA Cavaliers, Brondesbury v Wimbledon, Beaconsfield v Lambeth Enterprise, Stanmore v Hampstead, Bexley v Gidea Park & Romford, South Hampstead v Radlett.

Other dates: Quarter-finals - 5 August; semi-finals - 19 August; final (at the Oval) - 9 September.