Berkshire Top Group After Double Success Against Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire CCC v Berkshire Cricket – National Counties T20 Group Stage
Venue: Luton Town Indians CC
Berkshire completed an outstanding National Counties T20 group campaign by recording two victories over Bedfordshire at Luton Town Indians CC, securing top spot in the group and a home quarter-final at Wargrave CC on Saturday 9 August.
Having been inserted after losing the toss in the opening match, Berkshire produced an excellent all-round performance to win by 69 runs before, after being asked to bowl first in the second game, they held their nerve to claim a 6 wicket victory and finish top of the group.
The two wins meant Berkshire ended the group stage level on 12 points with Buckinghamshire but claimed first place thanks to a superior net run rate.
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | NRR |
| 1 | Berkshire Cricket | 8 | 12 | +2.89 |
| 2 | Buckinghamshire | 8 | 12 | +1.37 |
| 3 | Bedfordshire | 8 | 8 | -1.36 |
| 4 | Oxfordshire | 8 | 4 | -0.91 |
| 5 | Wales NC | 8 | 4 | -2.03 |
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Berkshire recovered from the early loss of Rhys Lewis thanks to a magnificent innings from Ben Salter, whose superb 80 from 51 balls included 12 fours and a six.
Johnny Connell provided early impetus with 18 from 11 deliveries before James Isbell added an important 25. Salter dominated the middle overs as Berkshire posted a competitive 164-9 from their 20 overs despite Nabil Moughal claiming 4-27 and Archie Houghton taking 3-31.
Berkshire’s bowlers then produced one of their best displays of the campaign, reducing Bedfordshire to 95 all out.
Samm Daniel struck early before Rhys Lewis removed Theodore Robinson and Gus Miller to leave the hosts under pressure. Bedfordshire never recovered as Berkshire maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.
Euan Woods finished with excellent figures of 3-15, while Daniel claimed 2-11 and Lewis 2-24. Sulaiman Akhtar, Toby Greatwood and Andy Rishton all picked up a wicket as Berkshire wrapped up an emphatic 69-run victory.
Berkshire lost the toss again and were asked to bowl first, producing another disciplined display to restrict Bedfordshire to 116-8.
Andy Rishton made the perfect start by dismissing Jake Tarling with the second ball of the innings before Samm Daniel removed Theodore Robinson. Debutant spinner Nilesh Bhandari then struck twice, dismissing Gus Miller and Jamie Dunk to leave Bedfordshire struggling.
Sulaiman Akhtar bowled Danyaal Khalid before sharp fielding from Andrew MacEwen resulted in the run out of Jamal Richards as Berkshire reduced the hosts to 54-6.
Patrick Harrington and Archie Houghton threatened to turn the match with a determined partnership, but Berkshire remained composed. Daniel returned to dismiss Houghton for 31 before Euan Woods claimed the wicket of Nabil Moughal in the final over as Bedfordshire finished on 116-8.
Daniel (2-18) and Bhandari (2-20) led another excellent bowling effort, while Rishton, Woods and Akhtar each claimed a wicket.
Set 117 to win, Berkshire had earlier battled hard after losing wickets at regular intervals. Johnny Connell made 18, Ben Salter added 20, while Euan Woods anchored the innings with an unbeaten 23. Andy Rishton then played a crucial finishing role with an unbeaten 26 from 24 balls, striking four boundaries to lift Berkshire to 117-6 and a win by 4 wickets.
Quarter-final Next
The double victory completed an impressive group campaign for Berkshire, who finished top of the table with 12 points and a net run rate of +2.89.
Having won six of their eight group matches, Berkshire now look ahead to a National Counties T20 quarter-final on Saturday 9 August at Wargrave CC, where they will aim to continue their excellent form and secure a place at Finals Day.