EVESHAM booked a place in the semi-finals of the Graham Williamson Trophy Plate competition 24 hours after slumping to a Birmingham League second division reverse.

Captain Barry Cle-ments led the way in the knockout match with a superb unbeaten century that saw off the challenge of Pre-mier Division West Bromwich Dartmouth.

The visitors included former Warwickshire batsman Huw Jones and India's Under-19 star Shukla and it was the latter who impr-essed most in the 40-overs-per-side contest.

The opening batsman hit 109 after Evesham had taken a couple of early wickets after inserting their higher ranked opponents.

Henry Newman sna-pped up a couple of catches to help Gavin Spares get rid of first Sajjad and then Shukla, whose departure saw the run rate slow down and 220 was a gettable target on a flat track.

However, Newman and Scott Marshall didn't last too long as Sajjad struck twice early after tea.

Spares and David Mullett also failed to make an impression and, at 62-4, the home side hopes of victory appeared remote.

Clements was joined by Chris Weaver and the pair embarked on a match winning century partnership before the latter was dismissed for 39.

The captain then took centre stage as he clubbed mots of the 58 runs still needed from the last seven overs to complete a remarkable triumph and book a home match with Coventry and North Warwickshire on Sunday, July 16.

The previous afternoon, Clements had again top scored but his innings of 48 could only help the visitors total a disappointing 143 at Aston Manor.

Again lacking the services of Neal and Luke Radford and with Mike Granacki absent, Evesham called on the services of in form second teamer Will Bailey who was one of a quartet of batsmen to reach double figures.

Once Clements had departed, the Evesham tail folded and an early finish was on the cards as the Manor openers quickly rattled up a half-century stand.

Alex Harrison's two overs went for 25 but Adam Brookes took two cheap wickets at the opposite end and Shahid Saeed chipped in with the crucial scalp of the prolific Sehn.

Off-spinner Spares also got in on the act but Fiyyaz was set on an early shower and his unbeaten 44 helped Aston race to a six-wicket win in the 37th over.

Marcus Humpston was the batting hero for the second string as his belligerent 38 not out steered Evesham to a three-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Jamie Anderson had earlier grabbed 6-47 as the visitors totalled 209-9 - a total that looked a winning one until Humpston's intervention.