BERKSHIRE CCC face a top-of-the-table clash for the second Unicorns Championship match running when they take on Cornwall at Grampound Road (near Truro) starting on Sunday.
Last week they defeated previous leaders Shropshire, but it was Cornwall who moved into pole position in the title race following their win over Dorset as they secured 24 points compared to Berkshire’s 23.
Second-placed Berks are also one point behind in the overall standings as they both go into their penultimate, three-day Western Division fixture.
The Royal county will travel with confidence after becoming the first side to defeat Shropshire in the league this year.
Skipper James Morris described it as “probably the most impressive and important county win for a long time.”
He added: “Hopefully, we can produce something similar against Cornwall. It is another big game for us as it will go a long way towards who wins the title.”
Like Berkshire, Cornwall have won three of their four matches, two of them by an innings. Their side includes Henley batting star Matthew Rowe.
Berkshire make two changes with Reading all-rounder Martin Andersson and Henley spinner Euan Woods replacing Billy Rogers and Ali Raja.
Squad: Ollie Wilkin (Ealing), Waqas Hussain (Slough), Martin Andersson (Reading), Richard Morris (Henley), James Morris (capt, Datchet), Andy Rishton (Finchampstead), Euan Woods (Henley), Chris Peploe (Datchet), Stewart Davison (wkt, Henley), Matt Carter (Finchampstead), Tom Nugent (Henley), Mark Firth (Boyne Hill).
Berkshire 2nds
BERKSHIRE have a second XI fixture with their Wiltshire counterparts at North Maidenhead CC on Friday (11am).
The team will be skippered by Max Stevenson, one of seven Finchampstead players in the squad.
The 12 are: Stevenson, Adam Dewes, Billy Rogers, Dan Lincoln, Craig Hodges, Callum Gregory, Max Uttley (all Finchampstead), Jack Davies (wkt, Henley), Feroz Baig (Slough), Imran Malik (Wargrave), Jamie Odell (Guildford), Mark Firth (Boyne Hill).
Berkshire Women
BERKSHIRE Women completed their ECB T20 Division 1 fixtures on a disappointing note, losing to relegated Nottinghamshire by four wickets and second-bottom Sussex by seven wickets at Hove last Sunday.
Berkshire, with three wins from seven, finished fourth.
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