COUNTIES CRICKET Champions must-win final match
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 13 August 2023 06:00
- Last Updated on Sunday, 13 August 2023 06:50
- Published on Sunday, 13 August 2023 06:00
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Berkshire have drawn all three of their matches to date and were saved by rain from a first home defeat in nine years against Cheshire at Finchampstead earlier this week when the final day was washed out.
Berkshire are now 14 points adrift of Oxfordshire, who beat Devon at Exeter, and head to Eastnor knowing that anything but a win will put an end to their hopes of retaining the title.
Even a maximum points victory might not be enough to take them through to next month’s final at West Bromwich Dartmouth as Cheshire, currently nine points behind them, have two games remaining including a potential divisional decider against Oxfordshire at Banbury starting on August 20.
Berkshire have made four changes to their side with batters Dan O’Driscoll and Billy Mead, all-rounder Josh Lincoln and slow left-armer Adam Searle called up.
O’Driscoll will make his seasonal debut having played for Middlesex against Berkshire in the Showcase match at Falkland two weeks ago.
Tom Nugent and Archie Carter are unavailable, Mungo Russell is injured and Rhodri Lewis has been rested.
Herefordshire give a belated National Counties debut to contracted Worcestershire batter Rehaan Edavalath who was due to play against Cheshire three weeks ago before the entire match at Alderley Edge was washed out.
Attock batter Imaad Mahmood will make his Championship debut in the absence of Matt Pardoe with Nick Hammond taking over as captain.
Cheshire face Devon at Chester Boughton Hall with three changes to the side that outplayed Berkshire.
Alex Money returns at his home club ground along with Sam Grant and Didsbury’s Steve Green.
Devon are missing the unavailable Fin Hill and have added left-arm seamer Jonty Walliker to the squad that was on duty against Oxfordshire.
All-rounder Matt Skeemer, who was twelfth man last weekend, is in line to play this time.
Cornwall have the chance to clinch the Western Division Two title and promotion to Division One for next season against Wales NC at Abergavenny.
A two wickets win over Wiltshire at St Austell on Tuesday gave Cornwall a 30 points lead over Shropshire, the only side who still cannot mathematically overtake them.
Cornwall recall St Austell wicketkeeper/batter Alex Bone to replace the unavailable Dan Jenkin in their only change.
Wales have made three changes to the side that drew with Wiltshire last time out with Ammanford left-arm seamer Saihaj Jaspal called up for his Championship debut in place of the injured Jack Harding.
Sam Jardine and Jason Foulkes replace the unavailable Tim Moses and Steffan Roberts.
Wiltshire and Dorset both need to win their two remaining matches to have any hope of overhauling Cornwall, but only one of them will be able to do so as the two counties meet at the South Wilts club in Salisbury.
Dorset’s much-changed squad includes two potential debutants – Lewis Freak and Josh Royan – plus former Netherlands Under-19 international Lucas del Bianco who is set for his Championship debut.
Ben Chaffey and Ben Fletcher have yet to play in the three-day competition this season.
Durant Cricket National Counties Championship
Sunday August 13-Tuesday August 15 (11am)
Eastern Division One
Horsford: Norfolk v Suffolk, Checkley: Staffordshire v Lincolnshire
Western Division One
Chester Boughton Hall: Cheshire v Devon, Eastnor: Herefordshire v Berkshire.
Eastern Division Two
Carlisle: Cumbria v Northumberland, Hertford: Hertfordshire v Cambridgeshire.
Western Division Two
Abergavenny: Wales NC v Cornwall, South Wilts CC: Wiltshire v Dorset.
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