COUNTIES CRICKET Soggy start to Championship openers
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- Created on Sunday, 20 July 2025 19:58
- Last Updated on Monday, 21 July 2025 08:08
- Published on Sunday, 20 July 2025 19:58
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent
On a soggy first day of the NCCA Cluberly Championship all eight opening matches were rain-affected.
Western Division champions Berkshire were frustrated by a second wicket stand of 173 between Devon’s Elliot Hamilton and Matt Thompson at Wargrave, where played started after lunch.
James Horler went first ball, bowled by a full toss from Charlie Dunnett, but Berkshire had to wait another 53 overs for their next wicket as Hamilton marked his seasonal debut with 87 and Thompson, who is retiring at the end of the season, made 68.
Both perished in successive overs from Josh Lincoln and Euan Woods, back after a lengthy absence with a thumb injury, snared Rhys Davies just before the close as Devon reached 211 for four in 75 overs.
In the other Western Division One match at Banbury, Oxfordshire made 114 for three in the 46 overs that were possible between the showers.
Oxfordshire, who were put in, were 16 for two early on but Arjun Ramkumar (39) and Luke Maslen (42 not out) repaired the damage with a third wicket stand of 74.
Only 25 overs were bowled at Whitchurch in which time Shropshire recovered from losing two early wickets to Cheshire’s Sam Grant to close on 91 for two. Harry Chandler (42 not out) and Arminder Brar (31 not out) stabilised the innings with an unbroken third wicket partnership of 67.
Wiltshire and Wales NC had to wait patiently for the rain to clear the South Wilts club in Salisbury where the hosts were in trouble at 38 for three before Jack Mynott led the recovery.
Mynott fell for 40, bowled by experienced seamer Richard Edwards who ended the day with three for 40 on his seasonal debut, and Wiltshire on 129 for five.
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