The Berkshire men travel to Challow and Childrey on Sunday to start their T20 campaign against neighbours Oxfordshire. After qualifying top of the group unbeaten in the 50 over competition the boys will be eager to start their T20 campaign with some good results against a strong Oxfordshire team.Berkshire finished off the group stage of the 50 0ver competition down at the beautiful Blundells school against a very talented Devon team on Sunday. Captain Dan Lincoln continued his impressive loss record,4 from 4, with the toss and Berkshire were sent into field first on what turned out to be a cracking batting wicket. Andy Rishton and Eddie Campion bowled really well up front and restricted Devon to 40 runs inside the first 10 overs. Devon’s openers put on a 100 for the first wicket and Berkshire eventually made the breakthrough in the 20 th over when Suliaman Akhtar had Ben Privett brilliantly caught by a diving Andy Rishton. This brought a period of pressure and with some excellent bowling and fielding Berkshire reduced Devon to 144 for 3 inside the 22 over. Berkshire then had to wait until the 43 rd over to pick up their 4th wicket and by that stage Devon had laid a perfect platform for a late onslaught. Devon finished with a flourish and set Berkshire a total of 327 to chase. Toby Greatwood finished with figures of 3 for 79.Berkshire needed a perfect start to chase down this commanding total, however Devon struck early removing Rhys Lewis in the 3rd over. This brought to the crease in form batter Charlie Dunnett who along with Jonny Connell started to up the tempo with some beautiful shots. Charlie was caught at long on in the 20 th over for an excellent 51 off 44 balls. Dan Lincoln then joined Connell and they continued the onslaught. The pair brought up their 100 partnership inside 13 overs and Lincoln was eventually out for a breathtaking 75 off 47 balls. Berkshire needed under 100 inside the last 17 overs. Devon bowlers hadn’t given up and fought all the way and turned the game back into their favour when Berkshire found themselves 8 down in the 45 th over still needing 42 runs. Andy Rishton and Sully Akthar then turned the game back towards Berkshire with some brilliant batting and Berkshire got home in the last over with 2 balls remaining. Andy Rishton finished with a brilliant 37 off 23 balls. Jonny Connell was at his scintillating best and scored his second trophy century this year and was the 5th wicket to fall and his 104 runs came off 119 balls. His shot making was quite incredible.So Berkshire finished the group top and Head coach Bjorn Mordt had this to say after the game “It is brilliant to stay unbeaten and to win a tough away fixture like this in Devon shows the character and resilience in this team. Chasing 327 was always going to be tough but Connell, Dunnett and Lincoln broke the back of the chase and our tail was able to bring it home where Rishton and Sully were brilliant at the end. We now move onto the T20 format and are excited to get started against Oxfordshire next week.”With Josh Lincoln and Archie Carter unavailable, youngster Andrew MacEwan will be brought in to bolster our batting line up.
