BERKSHIRE go into their final Western Division fixture against Dorset at Bournemouth on Sunday knowing they must win to keep alive their hopes to lifting the title.
They also need things to go their way elsewhere, as current leaders Oxfordshire will finish in top place if they beat Wiltshire at Devizes.
Berkshire are currently second in the table with 85 points, 13 fewer than Oxon.
“Yes, we do have to rely on Oxfordshire and also probably (third placed) Cornwall slipping up, but our priority will be to concentrate on our own game,” said skipper James Morris.
“We need to play as well as we did against Cheshire last week and, if we do that, then we will be in with a good chance of beating Dorset as well. When we get things right we are very dangerous side.”
Bowlers Chris Peploe and Tom Nugent took 18 wickets between them at Alderley Edge and will have a big part to play at Dean Park next week.
Batting star Waqas Hussain will be looking for his third century in as many games.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Stewart Davison and Richard Morris were also in good form against Cheshire, and so Berkshire are confident they can complete their Unicorns Championship campaign with an unbeaten record.
Dorset have managed to win only one championship game this season, and that came last week when they scored 217-3 in their second innings to beat fellow strugglers Devon by seven wickets.

  • BERKSHIRE Women play their fourth and last round of the ECB Women’s T20 competition on Sunday when they travel to East Grinstead CC to play Sussex at 10.30am and Somerset at 1.30pm.

With three wins and three defeats, Berkshire are fourth in the Division One table.