COUNTIES CRICKET Six on the spin for Sam Read

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Created on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 17:57

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 17:57

Published on Monday, 13 July 2026 17:57

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

Last season’s Western Division champions Devon began their title defence with an eight wickets win over Herefordshire at Sidmouth thanks to six wickets from off-spinner Sam Read.

Herefordshire appeared well placed to bat out for a draw after Worcestershire Academy prospect Joe Porter made 81 on debut and George Rhodes (96) and Luke Powell (47) then added 89 for the fifth wicket.

But the departure of Powell, caught at short leg off Read, started a collapse which saw Herefordshire lose their last six wickets for 28 in 14 overs which left Devon with a comfortable target of 115 in a minimum of 33 overs.

Rhodes, a winter recruit from Suffolk, missed out on a century on his first Championship appearance for Herefordshire when he went LBW pushing forward to slow left-armer Matt Whalley.

Devon chased down their target inside 20 overs with Ben Privett leading the way with 65 not out.

Berkshire were indebted to another valuable innings from Toby Greatwood to see them to a five wickets victory over Oxfordshire at Falkland.

The former Middlesex seamer was used as a specialist batter in this match , a move that brought him 213 runs without being dismissed.

Having made his maiden Championship century in the first innings, Greatwood followed up with 55 not out in the second and he was there at the end, lifting Luke Maslen for six to secure the win.

Greatwood added 70 for the fifth wicket with Euan Woods, whose composed 70 from 127 balls, helped Berkshire recover from slipping to 37 for three.

Earlier, Berkshire had dismissed Oxfordshire for 233 with spinners Rhys Lewis and Samm Daniel sharing wickets, which left them to chase 205 on a turning pitch.

Cornwall were the first winners in this season’s Championship as they wrapped up a nine wickets victory over Shropshire half-an-hour before lunch at Truro in Western Division Two.

Seamer Ellis Whiteford demolished Shropshire with career-best figures of five for 15, which included five of the last six wickets to fall. The departure of captain Charlie Home, bowled by Whiteford for 31, triggered the collapse which saw the last six wickets go down for 31.

Cornwall, who were relegated last season, needed just 19 for victory and they got there in 34 balls for the early loss of opener Tom Orpe.

Dorset also clinched victory before lunch over Wales NC at Ebbw Vale where their 263 runs win was their largest by runs margin since 1928. Dorset’s record runs victory – 307 – also came at Ebbw Vale in 1925 but on that occasion Monmouthshire were the host county.

A half-century from Kurtis Marsh and 31 not out from Luke Griffiths held up Dorset for a while but Hampshire staff man Felix Organ worked his way through the order to finish with competition-best figures of six for 69 to go with his Championship best 70 in the first innings.

Buckinghamshire launched their Championship defence in impressive fashion, by trouncing Staffordshire by 187 runs in their Eastern Division One opener at Chesham.

Cumbria ended a four-year wait for a Championship win by beating Hertfordshire by 49 runs at Furness.

NCCA CLUBERLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Last day of three

Eastern Division One

Chesham: Buckinghamshire 211 (Bertie Foreman 51) & 316-9 dec (Bertie Foreman 60), Staffordshire 143 (Tom Weymes 5-56, Ed Bragg 4-41) & 197 (James Kettleborough 55, Conner Haddow 5-45, Bertie Foreman 4-54).  Buckinghamshire (21pts) beat Staffordshire (4pts) by 187 runs.

Bury St Edmunds: Suffolk 418-9 (Feroze Khushi 145, Jack Beaumont 78, Ollie Burle 74, Freddie Heldreich 50) & 171 (Alex Oxley 71), Northumberland 419-9 dec (Ross Whitfield 160, Jonny Bushnell 129, Tom Harper 5-77) & 153 (Rory Mustard 50, Tom Harper 4-73). Suffolk (24pts) beat Northumberland (8pts) by 17 runs.

Western Division One

Falkland CC: Oxfordshire 279 (Luke Hayes 99 not out, Freddie Smith 65) & 233 (Luke Maslen 95), Berkshire 308 (Toby Greatwood 158 not out) & 210-5 (Euan Woods 70, Toby Greatwood 55 not out). Berkshire (23pts) beat Oxfordshire (7pts) by five wickets.

Sidmouth: Herefordshire 193 (Luke Tulacz 82) & 314 (George Rhodes 96, Joe Porter 81, Henry Hardinges 65, Sam Read 6-99), Devon 393-9 dec (James Matravers 124, Seb Linnitt 74, Lawrence Walker 60) & 118-2 (Ben Privett 65 not out). Devon (24pts) beat Herefordshire (5pts) by eight wickets.

Eastern Division Two

Furness: Cumbria 173 (Nathan Waterston 51) & 277 (Ed Wade 109, Freddie Fallows 59, Jacob Gordon 4-62), Hertfordshire 209 (Sam Davis 63, Jack Plom 60, Sam Sharp 5-96) & 192 (Ed Hales 67, Sam Sharp 4-68). Cumbria (20pts) beat Hertfordshire (5pts) by 49 runs.

Sleaford: Norfolk 374-9 (Sam Arthurton 84, Charlie Hood 76, Alfie Cooper 68) & 297-7 dec (Nathan Muggeridge 68, Charlie Hood 60), Lincolnshire 330-8 dec (Jordan Cook 61, James Laud 51, Hamidullah Qadri 4-58) & 101-2 (Tom Keast 61 not out). Lincolnshire (12pts) drew with Norfolk (11pts).

Western Division Two

Truro: Shropshire 188 (Roman Walker 61, Elliot Hooper 5-45) & 191 (Ellis Whiteford 5-15), Cornwall 361 (Will MacVicar 111, Paul Smith 85) & 21-1. Cornwall (24pts) beat Shropshire (5pts) by nine wickets.

Ebbw Vale: Dorset 396-8 (Luke Webb 172, Ed Ellis 82, Felix Organ 70, Luke Griffiths 5-74) 202-7 dec, Wales NC 150 (Sam King 53) & 185 (Kurtis Marsh 60, Felix Organ 6-69). Dorset (24pts) beat Wales NC (3pts) by 263 runs.

 

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