Berkshire to open their defence of the NCCA Trophy against Hertfordshire

Dan Lincoln

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Berkshire CCC

Berkshire open their defence of the NCCA Trophy against Hertfordshire at Henley CC on Bank Holiday Monday (11am), writes Dave Wright.

When they met them in the group stage last year, they won by six wickets at North Mymms, with skipper Dan Lincoln making an unbeaten half-century.

Berks will be looking to bounce back following their 68-run defeat by Staffordshire in the T20 semi-finals at Tring Park last Sunday. Staffs notched up a massive 252-2, the highest-ever Finals Day total.

After Nils Priestley had smashed a brilliant unbeaten 147 from just 66 balls with 10 sixes and 12 fours. He brought up his century from 41 balls, having along the way hit three sixes and two fours off five successive deliveries from Shaariq Sheikh. Priestley shared an opening partnership of 124 in nine overs with Zen Malik (40) and then 99 with James Kettleborough (33). Lincoln and Johnny Connell made a promising start to Berkshire’s reply, reaching 84 in 7.4 overs before the Henley batter was dismissed for 36.

Two overs and 17 runs later, Lincoln was caught for 55 and the innings faltered with Berks slipping from 123-2 to 137-5, and finishing with a final total of 184-9.

Staffs (119 all out) went on to lift the title by beating Cornwall (115-9) by four runs.

An investigation is taking place into an alleged racist word used by an Oxfordshire player during a T20 match against Berkshire at Thame on May 1. It is being made by an independent official appointed by the ECB and NCCA.

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Buckinghamshire CCC

Bucks have brought the promising young Buckingham al-rounder Hashan Ramanadanpulle into their squad for their opening National Counties Trophy group match against Wiltshire at Marlborough College on Bank Holiday Monday, writes Michael Knox.

Ramanadanpulle, who came up a a junior through the Bucks pathway scheme, is a talented batsman and off-spinner.

He is the only new face in the Bucks squad of 12, following the county's exit at the group stage of the National Counties T20 competition.

The 50-over match against Wiltshire starts at 11am.

Bucks squad: T Hampton (High Wycombe) capt, AJ Woodland (High Wycombe), E Cox (Buckingham), E Casterton (High Wycombe), A Kervezee (Halesowen), R Richardson (Blackheath), M Payne (Amersham), C Marrow (Gerrards Cross), H Ramanadanpulle (Buckingham), E Bragg (Halesowen), C Haddow (High Wycombe), T Weymes (Tring Park).