The 2001 National Club Championship, sponsored by play-cricket.com, has reached the semi-final stage with four teams, out of 379 original entrants, just one game away from a final at Lord's.

Bramhall Cricket Club, from Cheshire, will play at home against Scotland's Ayr Cricket Club, while High Wycombe Cricket Club will host Bath Cricket Club. The 45-over matches will be played on Sunday 12 August and games will begin at 1.00pm.

The play-cricket.com sponsorship has meant that prize money is being given for the first time in the competition's 32-year history. The losing semi-finalists will receive £1,500 each, the losing finalists £3,000 and the eventual winners, £6,000.

Both Bramhall CC and Ayr CC won through to the semi-final stage by slender margins. Bramhall CC beat Wolverhampton CC by losing fewer wickets after finishing the game on 230 runs each, whilst Ayr CC defeated Wickersley Old Village CC in a high-scoring game by just two runs.

High Wycombe beat Finchley in the quarter-finals by 102 runs and Bath CC claimed their semi-final berth with an 18-run victory over Saffron Walden CC.

The National Club Championship Final will be played at Lord's on Thursday 6th September, starting at 11.00am.

© ECB