BERKSHIRE will go into their Unicorns Trophy campaign in good spirits after following up their Marlborough Cup win over Wiltshire by defeating Bedfordshire by 28 runs in a friendly at Falkland CC last Sunday. They face Devon in their opening group game at Henley CC on Sunday (11am).

The backbone of the Berkshire innings of 300-7 off 50 overs against Beds was provided by Euan Woods with an excellent 96. He was looking to bring up a century with a lofted drive only to get a top edge and present wicket-keeper Nick Barden with an easy catch. The Henley man faced 130 balls in his 173-minute occupation of the crease, smacking nine fours in the process.

Woods and Richard Morris put on 114 for the third wicket in 19 overs, taking the total to 142 before the latter was caught for 59, having struck 10 fours. It was a good day for the Morris family as James hit 43.

Dan Lincoln hammered three sixes in his 14-ball knock of 22, while Stewart Davison produced a late flurry of 25 runs to bring up the 300 with the final ball of the innings.

In reply, Ethan Bamber struck early with two lbw decisions, but the visitors kept the score ticking over.

Beds moved on to 111-3 off 20, but six runs later Luke Thomas was forced to retire when he dislocated his knee with his total on 43.

Andy Reynoldson was joined by Jon Carpenter and they pressed on with a stand of 128 to put Beds in with a slight chance of pulling off a victory.

But young Bamber, on his return to the attack, swung the game back Berkshire’s way. He had Carpenter taken in the deep by Chris Peploe for 67 and three balls later the paceman had Barden caught for a duck by James Morris.

Tom Nugent then struck in each of his last two overs as Beds were restricted to 272-7, with skipper Reynoldson remaining unbeaten on 72 in his 116-minute stay at the crease.

Bamber finished with 4-48 off 10 overs and Nugent 2-57 off eight.

Skipper Morris admitted there is room for improvement, saying: “Like the Wiltshire game, we were not at our best, but it was nice to win again and we will go into the Devon game in good spirits.”

Summary: Berkshire 300-7 off 50 overs. Wilkin 11, Rishton 6, Woods 96, R Morris 59, A Carter 11, J Morris 43, Lincoln 22, Davison 25no, Peploe 1no. Extras 26.

Bedfordshire bowling: Thurstance 5-0-56-3, Anwar 5-0-35-1, Griggs 9-0-46-1, Brett 10-0-46-1, Carpenter 10-0-44-1, Thomas 5-0-17-0, Slawinski 6-0-53-0.

Bedfordshire: 272-7 off 50 overs. Howgego 9, Thomas 43 ret hurt, Ludlow 14, Thurstance 29, Reynoldson 72no, Carpenter 67, Barden 0, Slawinski 0, Brett 10, Anwar 1no. Extras 27.

Berkshire bowling: Nugent 8-0-57-2, Bamber 10-1-48-4, Wilkin 2-0-17-0, Woods 10-0-34-1, Peploe 10-0-65-0, Rishton 10-0-47-0.