Berkshire face table-topping Bedfordshire at the Wargrave Recreation Ground on Sunday knowing that a win in their penultimate Group 2 game would considerably boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the NCCA Trophy.
The holders currently sit second, two points behind their visitors but with a game in hand and a superior net run rate.
This is Bedfordshire’s final group game, while Berkshire still have to face third-placed Hertfordshire, another side battling for a top-two finish.
Last Sunday, Beds replaced Berks as group leaders by beating Cornwall by 88 runs with former Northamptonshire captain Alex Wakely scoring 115 from 114 balls in their 50-over total of 274-4. He shared a third-wicket partnership of 213 with left-handed opener Fayaz Homyoon making 114.
Cornwall, who had defeated Berkshire at Truro two weeks earlier, were never able to get grips with their run chase against an attack that included Leicestershire seamer Alex Evans and slow left-armer George
Darlow, son of the ECB’s interim chairman Martin. This will be the third game involving Berks and Beds this season as they played each other twice in the NCCA T20 competition at Ampthill last month with honours being shared, meaning neither county was able to overhaul Oxfordshire in the Group 4 title race. All three counties finished on 10 points with the places being decided on net run rate and it could be just as tight in the Trophy, adding to the importance of this Sunday’s clash (11am start).
Host club Wargrave will be represented by Euan Woods and Rhodri Lewis, while Wokingham spinner Max Uttley is set to return after missing the game against Cornwall.
The availability of Toby Albert will not be known until later in the week as the Finchampstead batsman may be wanted by Hampshire for their home Vitality Blast game with Surrey which is also being played on Sunday.
By Dave Wright
