NATIONAL COUNTIES T20 down to the wire
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 08 May 2022 06:45
- Last Updated on Monday, 09 May 2022 06:23
- Published on Sunday, 08 May 2022 06:45
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
The final round of double-headers in the four groups take place and 11 of the 20 National Counties are still in contention for semi-final places and a trip to Tring Park CC for Finals Day on Sunday May 22.
The Group Two winners will be decided at Wadebridge where Cornwall host leaders Dorset with just one point separating them.
Cornwall welcome back all-rounder James Turpin.
Devon have Somerset seamer Ned Leonard available for their games against Herefordshire at the North Devon club in Instow.
Oxfordshire face a particularly nervous day as, although they currently top Group Four, they have already completed all eight of their double-headers and are only two points clear of both Bedfordshire and Berkshire who meet at Ampthill.
A double for either those sides would see them win the group but a win apiece would leave three counties level on ten points each and calculators would be required to determine net run rate.
Berkshire welcome back in-form batsman Kashif Ali, who has been playing for Worcestershire’s Second XI.
Berkshire have Toby Albert back from county duty with Hampshire and Savin Perera is also added to the side that completed a double over Buckinghamshire on Monday.
Buckinghamshire host Wales NC in the other Group Four match at High Wycombe with Michael Wells of Buckingham Town and Ed Bragg of Halesowen added to their squad.
Wales will give a debut to St Asaph seamer Jason Foulkes in a much-changed team. Prem Sisodiya returns from Glamorgan duty with Muju Ilyas, Sam Jardine and Morgan Bevans also included in the squad. Cameron Herring will captain Wales in place of the unavailable Sam Pearce.
Group One leaders Cheshire have added Charlie Barnard, a slow left-armer from Hyde and Lancashire’s academy, to their squad for their games against Northumberland at South Northumberland.
A double would guarantee Cheshire a place at Finals Day but both Staffordshire and Cumbria, who meet at Carlisle, will hope that Northumberland can do them a favour by beating Cheshire.
Northumberland have recalled slow left-armer Oli McGee and Chester-le-Street leg-spinner Amaan Ul Haq as they attempt to build on their first win of the season in their most recent match, against Shropshire on Monday.
Netherfield seamer Sam Medhurst is set to make a delayed debut for Cumbria. Medhurst was due to make his county bow against Shropshire at his home ground last Sunday but both matches were washed out.
Medhurst comes in for the unavailable Richard Gleeson while Staffordshire have named the same squad that shared the honours with Cheshire at Leek last Sunday.
Holders Hertfordshire face Cambridgeshire in a potential Group Three shoot-out at Welwyn Garden City.
Both go into the final round of games on eight points with Cambridgeshire top of the group on superior run rate. A double for either side would guarantee a place at Finals Day but a win each would leave the door open for Lincolnshire provided they can beat Norfolk at Manor Park.
In that scenario, the winners would be decided on run rate with Lincolnshire’s currently -0.98, Hertfordshire’s 0.49 and Cambridgeshire’s 1.22.
Former Essex batsman Kishen Velani is set to make his Hertfordshire debut against the side he made one National Counties Championship appearance for last season.
Lincolnshire have all-rounder James Dobson and seamer Danny Cliffe available for their trip to Horsford.
FREE TO SEE National Counties T20
Sunday May 8 (1100 and 1430)
Group One
Carlisle: Cumbria v Staffordshire.
South Northumberland CC: Northumberland v Cheshire.
Group Two
Wadebridge: Cornwall v Dorset
North Devon CC: Devon v Herefordshire
Group Three
Manor Park: Norfolk v Lincolnshire
Welwyn Garden City: Hertfordshire v Cambridgeshire
Group Four
Ampthill Town CC: Bedfordshire v Berkshire
High Wycombe: Buckinghamshire v Wales NC
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