NATIONAL COUNTIES CRICKET Down to the wire...
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- Created on Sunday, 21 August 2022 06:19
- Last Updated on Sunday, 21 August 2022 07:27
- Published on Sunday, 21 August 2022 06:19
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
The two places in next month’s final at West Bromwich Dartmouth, which involve the respective winners of Eastern and Western Division One, have yet to be decided as have the two counties that will be relegated and the two that will be promoted to replace them as winners of Eastern and Western Division Two!
Oxfordshire head West One with a a lead of 21 points but they sit out the final round of matches and need Herefordshire to do them a favour by denying Berkshire victory and six bonus points at the Falkland club in Newbury.
Berkshire’s defeat by Cheshire at Nantwich on Tuesday was only their second in the Championship since August 2014.
They have named a 12-man squad for today’s match that are all products of the county’s youth system with seamer Lewis Sharp and off-spinner Max Uttley set for their first Championship appearances of the season. Experienced all-rounder Andy Rishton returns to the squad.
Herefordshire, who are in a three-way fight with Dorset and Cheshire to avoid relegation, have Worcestershire batter Josh Dell available this weekend.
David Ball, Nick Hammond, Luke Powell and Zak Abbas also return in changes to the side that beat Cheshire last time out.
Dorset, who are bottom, host Cheshire at Wimborne knowing that they need to win to have any chance to staying up.
Dorset have made four changes to the side that was beaten by Oxfordshire with Joe Eckland, Simon Woodruff, Harry Fisher and Matt King returning.
Cheshire have recalled Henry Dobson and Nick Anderson.
Western Division Two is the most intriguing – and potentially complicated – of the divisions as only 20 points separate leaders Devon from Cornwall, who are bottom.
Devon host Wiltshire at Sidmouth where the winners will go up if Wales NC lose to Cornwall at Truro.
If Wales beat Cornwall they would require Devon and Wiltshire to draw to clinch promotion, but a Devon win with a small haul of bonus points would settle the issue irrespective of the outcome at Truro.
Wales give debuts to Swansea batter Cameron Hemp, the 20-year-old son of former Glamorgan, Warwickshire and Bermuda left-hander David.
Wales Under-18s and Carmarthen Wanderers pace bowler Will Moore is another debutant with Muji Ilyas called up for his first Championship appearance of the season.
But Brad Wadlan, who has been integral to Wales’ success this season, is unavailable this weekend.
Shropshire, who completed their programme with a heavy defeat against Devon on Tuesday, will finish bottom if Cornwall take three points against Wales.
Lincolnshire are hot favourites to win Eastern Division One and head to Manor Park to play Norfolk knowing that a maximum of six points will be enough to book their place in the final.
The Eastern Division Two title - and a place in Division One next season – is a straight shoot-out between Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire who meet at Tring Park, with Buckinghamshire having most ammunition.
Buckinghamshire, who have won their first three matches, need just three points to deny Cambridgeshire an immediate return to the top-flight.
National Counties Championship
August 21-23 (11am)
Eastern Division One
Flitwick: Bedfordshire v Suffolk, Manor Park: Norfolk v Lincolnshire
Western Division One
Falkland: Berkshire v Herefordshire, Wimborne: Dorset v Cheshire
Eastern Division Two
Tring Park: Buckinghamshire v Cambridgeshire, Hertford: Hertfordshire v Northumberland
Western Division Two
Truro: Cornwall v Wales NC, Sidmouth: Devon v Wiltshire
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