Berkshire CCC made it three wins out of three in this season’s NCCA Trophy with a comfortable five-wicket victory over Oxfordshire at the Falkland club last Sunday.
The holders bowled out their visitors for 218 in 46 overs and needed just under 40 overs to reach their target, with Archie Carter making a half-century and skipper Dan Lincoln remaining unbeaten on 42.
For a time, it looked as if Berks would be chasing a much lower total as the first five Oxon wickets tumbled for just 56.
Wokingham allrounder Andy Rishton took the first four wickets before Wargrave’s Tommy Sturgess bowled Oxon skipper Johnny Cater for one, making it 56-5.
However, Hayden Rossouw led a spirited recovery by making an excellent 93 in a 116-ball innings. He and Dylan Driscoll added 165 for the sixth wicket before the latter was caught by keeper Lincoln off the bowling of Sturgess for 67, which came off 68 balls.
Sturgess had Tom Hinley caught first ball by Johnny Connell, and it was not long before his Wargrave team-mate, Toby Greatwood, polished off the innings.
Sturgess finished with 4-40, Rishton 4-31 and Greatwood 2-42, while Lincoln took five catches.
In reply, Berks got off to something of a shaky start, losing Connell for a second-ball duck and Euan Woods for 13, but from then on, it was fairly plain sailing for the hosts.
Rhys Lewis made 23, including five boundaries, and Carter fired a 64-ball half-century whilst adding 72 in 13 overs with Charlie Dunnett, who contributed 31 runs before being trapped lbw. Carter was the fifth man out at 158 in the 31st over, shortly after bringing up an excellent half-century
This brought Lincoln and Rhodri Lewis together, and they didn’t hang around. The skipper blasted 42 off 50 balls with five fours, while Lewis hit a six and four boundaries as he raced to 34 off 30 balls.
Berks, helped by 26 extras, reached their target off the second ball of the 40th over.
Lincoln’s men will be looking to complete their Group Three unbeaten when they take on Buckinghamshire at Chesham this Sunday.
Last weekend, Bucks (121) lost to Cornwall (245-9) by 124 runs, their third successive defeat in the competition.
