COUNTIES CRICKET Group deciders incoming...

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Created on Friday, 15 May 2026 17:48

Last Updated on Friday, 15 May 2026 17:58

Published on Friday, 15 May 2026 17:48

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

Eight counties will be in competition for four places in an intriguing final round of group matches in the National Counties Trophy on Sunday.

So far only Cheshire and Cumbria, both in Group One, Norfolk in Group Two and Buckinghamshire in Group Four have secured their places in the last eight with seven of Sunday’s eight matches having a direct bearing on who will join them in the quarter-finals.


Cumbria’s match against Cheshire at Keswick is a straight shoot-out to decide who will top Group One and have a home advantage in their quarter-final.

In Group Two, Staffordshire’s home tie against Lincolnshire at Bignall End is, in effect, an eliminator. The winners will go through to the last eight but will do so as runners-up if Norfolk beat Bedfordshire at Sprowston. If Norfolk lose the final placings will be decided by net run rate over the four group matches.

Calculators could also be required to decide Group Three and Group Four with six of the eight counties in action on Sunday still in with a mathematical chance of progressing.

Devon must beat Hertfordshire at Sidmouth to have any hope of finishing in the top two but they will also have to await the outcome of Wiltshire’s match against Berkshire at Warminster.

Wiltshire will top the group if they can make it four straight wins. But wins for Berkshire and Devon would leave them level on six points with Wiltshire with net run rate then determining the two quarter-final qualifiers.

Group Four is equally competitive although Buckinghamshire would simplify matters if they beat Cornwall at Tring. Oxfordshire, who face Wales NC at Pontarddulais, are the only county who can equal Buckinghamshire’s current haul of six points.

But wins for Wales and Cornwall would leave them level with Oxfordshire on four points and require a require a net run rate calculation to split them.

Buckinghamshire will face Cornwall without off-spinner Bertie Foreman who was been signed by Kent on a two-month contract.

Foreman has performed consistently with bat and ball for Buckinghamshire so far this season and also for Kent’s Second XI, earning him a second crack at first-class cricket following his release by Sussex at the end of last season.

Cornwall give a debut to former Sussex and Kent slow left-armer Elliot Hooper, who played one National Counties T20 match for Cambridgeshire three years ago. Paul Smith returns to captain Cornwall along with Ellis May.

Wales NC have four contracted Glamorgan players – Alex Horton, Callum Nicholls, Henry Hurle and Romano Franco – in their squad and could give a debut to Glamorgan Academy seamer Tom Edwards on his home club ground.

Oxfordshire UCCE seamer Jack Warner is a debutant for Oxfordshire with batter Tristan Rossouw called up for the first time this season.

Berkshire have added all-rounder Connor Lamsdale to the side that beat Herefordshire last week for their visit to Warminster to face a Wiltshire side who warmed up with a T20 match against a Glamorgan XI at Swindon.

Devon have named Gloucestershire Academy all-rounder James Matravers in their squad for his competitive debut after he impressed in Monday’s Showcase T20 match against Somerset.

Batter Elliot Hamilton is set for his seasonal debut as replacement for the injured Dan Pyle.

Hertfordshire, who will be trying to avoid a fourth straight defeat, introduce Broxbourne’s Ed Hales and first outing in the competition to Arjun Patel.

Herefordshire, who have already completed their Trophy campaign, entertain MCC at Brockhampton on Sunday in two T20 matches in their annual fund-raiser for the local St Michael’s Hospice.

Brockhampton pair Ollie Langford and Theo Barker have been included in the county side.

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