Mistley's cricketers are setting their sights on another exciting run in the National Village Cup.

And if they can win their next match in the competition, skipper John Manning and his side will move another step closer to a dream appearance at Lord’s.

That is the carrot for the teams who make it into the final and Mistley got within two games last summer, before agonisingly losing their national quarter-final against Rottingdean.

Now they are hoping for another adventure in the competition and, after receiving a bye in the first round and then comfortably seeing off Stock, they visit High Roding in the regional semi-finals on Sunday.

“We’re optimistic and, if we win this weekend, I believe we’ve got a very good chance of soldiering into the latter rounds and hopefully all the way to Lord’s,” said Manning.

For the full story and more cricket news, see this week's Standard.