Spencer skipper Neil Baker has revealed it was nervous wait for his side before they received confirmation they had reached the quarter-finals of the National Knockout Cup at the weekend.

The Earlsfield-based outift tied with visitors Havant on Sunday as both side’s posted scores of 214 for nine from their 45 overs, but it was the hosts that went through having scored 209 at the start of the final over compared to 203 from their opponents.

Baker’s side - thanks largely to opener Andrew Mason’s 65 - had needed six off the last over to win, but fell one short as they had Patrick Foster run out on the final ball going for out-right victory.

Spencer have struggled at the foot of the Surrey Championship Premier Division this season - having finished third last year - and the captain is hoping the cup run can dramaticallty turn his side’s campaign around.

“We had a fair idea that a tie would be enough in the circumstances. The umpires locked themselves away to discuss the rules and I have to say it was a nervous six minutes before they confirmed the result,” he said.

“We play Bromley next - who won the competition in 2007 - so it is going to be a tough game, but we feel we are a side that can beat anyone on its day.

“We are confident we can turn things around. It is no fluke that we finished third last year, so with availability improving we know we have the players to get us out of trouble.”

Bad weather robbed Spencer of a much needed victory on Saturday having bowled out Guildford for 145, before rain restricted their reply to reaching 79 for three from 26 overs to secure the winning draw.

“It was frustrating, but it could have been worse. All in all a pretty good weekend and hopefully we can get on a roll,” added Baker.

Sutton were knocked off the top of Surrey Championship after a crushing nine-wicket defeat by champions Reigate Priory on Saturday.

Priory made light work of chasing down Sutton’s 210-9 to go nine points clear at the top after the 10th round of matches.

Sutton laboured to 210-9 from 63 overs - despite an unbeaten 60 from Will Muse - before Chris Murtagh (103*) and Brett Forsyth (95*) saw Priory home.

Weybridge’s poor season continued at Sunbury as the hosts overhauled their below-par total of 195 all out for the loss of just four wickets.

Weybridge Vandals fly-half Darren Livett (36*) and Adam Bennett (30) put on 47 for the last wicket to get their side up towards the 200 mark, but Sunbury’s Gavin Spencer (68) and Adam London (81*) helped condemn skipper Abeed Janmohammed’s men to defeat.

Malden Wanderers continue to struggle with their consistency as they followed up last week’s win over Sunbury with a dismal defeat at home to Cobham Avorians.

Skipper Giles Pickles men were skittled out for 136 before Avorians chased it down inside 30 overs and for the loss of five wickets.

Wimbledon’s clash with Banstead was abandoned due to rain.

Elsewhere, Cheam are 20 points clear at the top of Surrey Championship Division Two after a four-wicket win at Farnborough on Saturday.

Steve Clark took 3-36 and Mark Burns 3-30 as Farnham were bowled out for 147.

Opener Krishna Singh made 30 for Cheam and Adrian Jones contributed an unbeaten 54 as they secured victory inside 41 overs.

Fixtures: Malden Wanderers v Banstead, Reigate Priory v Spencer, Sunbury v Wimbledon, Sutton v Guildford, Weybridge v Cobham Avorians.