Oswestry's Robbie Clarke scored a brilliant, unbeaten century to guide Shropshire through to the quarter finals of the Unicorns Trophy as they completed an impressive chase to beat Staffordshire by one wicket.

Clarke, the Oswestry captain, followed up hitting a ton for his club in the Birmingham League a day earlier by once more reaching three figures to inspire Shropshire to an excellent win in an exciting clash at Himley.

Shropshire will now travel to Norfolk in the last eight of the competition.

Responding to Staffordshire’s 265-8, Shropshire had it all to do at 129-6, but then Clarke shared in a century stand for the seventh wicket with Sam Whitney.

Clarke, a late call up to the side to replace the injured Jack Edwards, held his nerve to end undefeated on 107 from 92 balls, hitting six sixes and 11 fours in the process, with Bryan Jones, Shropshire’s chairman of selectors, quick to salute his efforts.

"The reason cricketers turn up to play is because at some stage they will perform a wow bowling performance or a wow batting performance and we saw one today,” said Jones.

“It was a match winning hundred, arguably one of the best I’ve seen for Shropshire. For somebody to get 100 on the Saturday and then 100 on the Sunday is a top effort.

“It was a great partnership between Robbie and Sam, and then Jack Twigger did well coming into a very tense situation to help see us over the line.”

Staffordshire set 266 to win after finishing 265-8 and Shropshire, in reply, quickly lost Omar Ali – the start turn of round one – but Steve Leach and Will Parton then moved the score along to 79 before Leach was trapped lbw by Dan Richardson for 46.

The visitors were soon in trouble at 111-5 with Kervezee and Aucott both out cheaply before Parton went for 33, also falling lbw to Richardson (3-45).

Clarke set about reviving Shropshire’s hopes with a fine partnership of 108 with S Whitney.

Sandhu and Barnard quickly came and went to leave Shropshire on 251-9 as last man Jack Twigger, making his county debut, walked out to join Clarke in the middle, making an important five, before Clarke struck the winning runs to steer Shropshire to 266-9 with 13 balls to spare to set up the Norfolk clash.