Suffolk all-rounder Tom Rash says he can’t wait for the semi-final of this season’s Unicorns KO Trophy, writes Nick Garnham.

Rash, who joined Mildenhall from Copdock & Old Ipswichian prior to this season, played a pivotal role as Suffolk defeated Oxfordshire by six wickets at Banbury CC on Sunday.

The victory sets up a semi-final – the first time Suffolk have reached the last four since winning the competition in 2007 – away to Devon on July 1.

The 34-year-old claimed career-best one-day figures of five for 34, including taking three of the first four wickets to fall, as Suffolk restricted their hosts to 190 for 8 in their 50 overs.

Oxfordshire recovered from 12 for 4 as Rash (10-2-34-5) received excellent support from Sudbury pair James Poulson and Darren Batch, who conceded just 33 runs from their combined 20 overs.

However, Suffolk eased to victory and Rash, a member of the Suffolk side that lost to Devon by 138 runs when they last met in a Unicorns KO Trophy Quarter-Final tie in 2014, said: “I can’t wait for the semi-final to come round.

“Devon are traditionally a strong Minor Counties side because of their links with Somerset, which has produced the Overton brothers and Dom Bess in recent years, but you just have to play the team put in front of you.”

With Billy Moulton-Day dropping out injured – his brother Kenny was called-up for his debut at short notice – and Adam Ball unavailable, Rash was given the new ball after Suffolk won the toss.

He said: “I open the bowling in club cricket, and I have done it for Suffolk before and I really relish it. With Billy and Adam dropping out I was given the chance and I did my best for the team.

“It helped a lot having James (Poulson) bowling at the other end as he bowls such consistent areas it meant I could try what I wanted to as it is about bowling in partnerships.

“There was some cloud cover overhead and I tried to swing it predominantly away and I got it in the right places and three of their top-order batsmen edged it.”