Berkshire open defence of NCCA Championship with draw against Devon

Berkshire opened their defence of the NCCA Championship with a draw against Devon at the Falkland club in Newbury this week after having only one opportunity to bat, writes Dave Wright.

They dismissed their visitors for 272 on Sunday with Josh Lincoln the most successful of the bowlers, taking 3-33 in nine overs, while Toby Greatwood returned excellent figures of 12-5-22-2, his victims including debutant Finley Hill for 90.

Berkshire made a dreadful start to their reply, losing their first five wickets for just 47 in 16 overs. But Dan Lincoln (41) and Andy Rishton (33) added 65, and half-centuries from Rhodri Lewis and Greatwood hauled their side right back into the game.

Greatwood (52) and Luke Beaven (38no) added 77 for the last wicket, taking their side to 269 all out, a deficit of just three runs.

Devon extended that lead to 48 for the loss of one wicket before the rain arrived and brought an early close to Monday's play.

On the final day, there was nothing in the wicket for the bowlers and Devon were in no mood to declare early and give Berkshire a chance of winning. They batted all day and finally declared at 291-7, a lead of 294, with the two captains then shaking hands, leaving the sides with 10 points apiece.

Calum Haggett occupied the crease for 198 minutes to finish unbeaten on 85 off 146 balls, and he and Jamie Stephens, who scored 36 in a minute short of two hours, added 92 for the seventh wicket.

Berks used eight bowlers, but paceman Rishton picked up an injury and didn't bowl on Tuesday.

The champions' next Western Division 1 fixture is against Oxfordshire at Thame on July 23-25.

Oxon also took 10 points from their drawn match with Herefordshire at Eastnor this week.

Summary: Devon 272 (Finley Hill 90) & 291-7 dec (Calum Haggett 85no, James Horler 61, Matt Thompson 51); Berkshire 269 (Rhodri Lewis 53, Toby Greatwood 52).

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When Berkshire won the MCCA Trophy in 2019 - and they are still the champions - their semi-final victims were Wiltshire. So the holders are hoping history will repeat itself when they meet them again next Sunday (July 16) at South Wilts CC in Salisbury.

On that last occasion, Berkshire triumphed by four wickets following half-centuries from Archie Carter, who was making his Trophy debut, and Tom Scriven in their innings of 202-6.

Until recently, these two batters were Henley team-mates, but Scriven has now left the club to join Saltburn in the North Yorkshire & South Durham League.

Wiltshire, who have never won the Trophy, secured their semi-final place by beating Hertfordshire by four wickets in a tense run chase at Hertford, scoring 288-6 with Tom Cullen making 80 and Ed Young 44. Berks had lost to Herts by 85 runs in a group game at Henley in May.

This will be the fourth time the two counties linked by the M4 have met in the national 50/50 competition with Berks having won two of the previous three meetings.

It will be a surprise if the holders fail to book their place in another final at Wormsley on August 27th.

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Buckinghamshire CCC

Newly-promoted Bucks began their National Counties Championship campaign with a superb six-wicket victory over Norfolk in their Eastern Division 1 match at Tring Park on Tuesday, writes Michael Knox. 

In a closely-fought three-day contest, Bucks were set 244 for victory from 60 overs on the final afternoon.

Opener AJ Woodland sent Bucks on their way with a splendid 91 from 114 balls - his second half-century of the game - sharing a second-wicket stand of 79 with Chris Marrow (37).

Then Michael Payne, with an unbeaten 54 from 51 balls and a fluent 39 from Ross Richardson, who hit two sixes, sped Bucks to victo zeery with 4.3 overs to spare.

After winning the toss on the first day, Bucks seemed in control, when they reduced Norfolk to 122-7. But a stunning 100 from 120 balls from Callum Metcalf, who shared an eighth-wicket stand of 153 with Brett Stolworthy (66no), lifted them 299-9 from 90 overs 

Left-arm spinner Conner Haddow was the outstanding Bucks bowler with 5-107 from 28 overs 

The home side replied with 251 all out in 71.5 overs. Alex Kervezee led the way with  sparkling 76 from 90 balls, and was well supported by Woodland (55), Ed Bragg (42) And Buckingham debutant Jake Tarling (35).

With a first-innings lead of 48, Norfolk struggled to stretch their advantage to match-winning proportions and were bowled out for 195 from 78.5 overs in their second knock.

Haddow returned his second five-wicket haul of the match 5-31 from 20.5 overs- for outstanding match-figures of 10-136.

Bucks's target of 244 seemed gettable on an excellent pitch and fast outfield - and so it proved as the expected rain held off

Bucks's second Championship game is against Staffordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth, starting on Sunday June 23.

Bucks take 22 points from the game to Norfolk's five, the visitors having been deducted two points for a slow over rate