COUNTIES CRICKET Championship latest - day one report
- Details
- Created on Monday, 14 August 2023 01:30
- Last Updated on Monday, 14 August 2023 01:30
- Published on Monday, 14 August 2023 01:30
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Berkshire, who were put in on a pitch that was still recovering from getting wet during a county Under-18s match during the week, were in dire straits at 99 for seven shortly after lunch.
But Connell helped them to the relative prosperity of 210 all out by making a career-best 95 in more than four hours.
At one stage it looked like Connell might carry his bat but he was eighth out, bowled by James Rudge five short of his century, having shared an eighth wicket partnership of 99 with Toby Greatwood (45).
Rudge claimed his maiden five wicket haul and he and Roshan Venkataraman (three for 42) posed problems throughout for the misfiring champions.
Berkshire, who need to win this match to have any hope of progressing to next month’s final, still had plenty of work to do despite Connell’s efforts and they were made to work hard for a breakthrough by Herefordshire openers Ben Chapman-Lilley and Rehaan Edavalath.
Edavalath, who is on Worcestershire’s staff, made 43 in his first National Counties innings before he was stumped off slow left-armer Luke Beaven which broken an opening partnership of 80.
Chapman-Lilley reached his half-century and was unbeaten on 53 at the close with Herefordshire 100 behind.
Cheshire, who were thwarted by rain against Berkshire last week, also struggled against Devon at Chester Boughton Hall where James Horler gave the visitors the advantage with a polished century.
Horler stroked 165 from 225 balls – an innings that included 20 fours and two sixes – to take Devon to a commanding 423 for nine after they had been put in following a delayed start.
Horler was well-supported by his opening partner Ben Privett (43), Matt Thompson (38), Elliot Hamilton (43), Calum Haggett (30) and Ben Beaumont (38) as Devon’s batters put in a solid shift.
Steve Green took five wickets in an innings for the first time in his first Championship appearance in two years for Cheshire.
Pace bowler Kaz Szymanski then reduced Cheshire to four for three within the first 17 balls of their first innings before they limped to 19 for three in nine overs at the close.
Dorset’s former Somerset batter Sam Young followed up his double century against Shropshire with 177 against Wiltshire at the South Wilts club in Salisbury in Western Division One.
Young and Alex Eckland (96) shared a fourth wicket partnership of 204 which took Dorset to 391 for nine declared.
Wiltshire replied with 52 for one with opener Dylan Church unbeaten on 30.
A maiden century from Wales NC opener Harry Friend and a tenth in the Championship from player/coach Brad Wadlan frustrated Cornwall at Abergavenny.
Friend, whose previous best in 12 Championship innings was 27, and Wadlan added 109 for the fourth wicket with George Pritchard adding a quickfire 42 not out at the end of the innings.
Pritchard then took the wicket of Adam Hodgson before Cornwall closed on 25 for one.
Durant Cricket National Counties Championship
First day of three
Eastern Division One
Horsford: Suffolk 209 (Jack Beaumont 89, George Rhodes 50, Ryan Findlay 5-57), Norfolk 97-6.
Checkley: Lincolnshire 281 (Tom Keast 93, Ben Wright 50, Tom Brett 7-93), Staffordshire 54-0
Western Division One
Chester Boughton Hall: Devon 423-9 (James Horler 165, Steve Green 5-99), Cheshire 19-3.
Eastnor: Berkshire 210 (Johnny Connell 95, James Rudge 5-57), Herefordshire 110-1 (Ben Chapman-Lilley 53 not out).
Eastern Division Two
Carlisle: Cumbria 169 (Freddie Fallows 51, Oli McGee 5-59), Northumberland 195-7 (John Oswell 71).
Hertford: Hertfordshire 365-5 (Dominic Chatfield 132, David Burnell 97, Arjun Patel 66 not out), Cambridgeshire 34-0.
Western Division Two
Abergavenny: Wales NC (Harry Friend 120, Brad Wadlan 102), Cornwall 25-1.
South Wilts CC: Dorset (Sam Young 177, Alex Eckland 96), Wiltshire 52-1.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
