Doncaster Town aim to turn back time in National KO Cup

The club will toast the 20th anniversary of their famous Abbot Ale Cup final win against Bath at the Home of Cricket later this summer.

And Luke Townsend’s current crop have ambitions of celebrating in style - by emulating the achievements of Nick Cowan’s men.

Town reached the last 64 of this season’s competition, now known as the ECB National Club Championship, with a comfortable home victory over Bradford Premier League side Hanging Heaton on Sunday.

They will host Sessay, of the ECB Yorkshire North Premier League, on Sunday, June 3.

Doncaster were indebted to in-form James Stuart and their Yorkshire allocated player Bilal Anjum, whose unbroken second wicket stand of 157 led them to a nine wicket win over Hanging Heaton in front of a healthy crowd at Town Field.

Townsend starred with the ball, claiming 4-27 from eight overs, as the visitors stuttered to 166 all out in 38.3 overs.

Duncan Heath departed early on, bowled by former Yorkshire and Kent quickie David Stiff, before Stuart and Anjum went about their business in stylish fashion.

Stuart was unbeaten on 90 and Anjum was 63 not out at the close.

n Town suffered their first defeat of the ECB Yorkshire South Premier League season on Saturday when they went down by 67 runs at home to new leaders Sheffield Collegiate - despite another brilliant knock by overseas star Ali Waqas.

Collegiate batted first and posted an imposing 263-7, including 43 from Michael Simpson and 46 not out from Matthew Lee.

Curtis Free took 3-87 and Heath 4-58.

In reply Doncaster struggled first to 29-3 and then to 70-6.

Waqas kept things respectable with 103 not out and Town closed on 196-8.

The Pakistan A international has scored 190 runs in three league matches and is yet to be dismissed.