A team of students from Southampton Institute have booked a dream visit to Lord's next March in the British Universities Indoor Cricket finals.

The squad claimed their place at headquarters after winning a six-team qualifying tournament held at the Rose Bowl and also involving the universities of Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Reading, Southampton and Oxford.

The tournament consisted of two groups of three with the Institute grouped with Portsmouth and Southampton University.

After Portsmouth had defeated Southampton in a close encounter, the Institute went into the game against Portsmouth knowing that defeat would see an early end to interest in the event.

However, tight bowling from Daniel Feist restricted Portsmouth to 98.

Opener Damien Shirazi gave the Institute a solid reply, retiring at the obligatory 25 mark while Tshepo Legodis finished unbeaten on 26.

The Institute then dismissed Southampton for 58 with Shirazi again reaching 25 as his side won in only six overs.

In the final against Oxford, Shirazi fielded first on winning the toss and, despite a flying start, Oxford were restricted to 116.

Shirazi and James Rose both retired as Institute made a good reply before losing four wickets in consecutive balls with the score on 73.

This collapse, however, enabled Shirazi and Rose to return. Rose was dismissed for a valiant 47, leaving man-of-the-day Shirazi to belt nine runs off the last over, including a winning four to bring up his half century.