Berkshire hoping to finally get season underway
Berkshire County Cricket Club will be hoping to finally start their season this coming Sunday after having the last two weekend games cancelled, writes Dave Wright.
They are scheduled to face Buckinghamshire in two NCCA T20 Group 4 games at High Wycombe (11am and 2.30pm).
The Marlborough Cup match against Wiltshire at Thatcham and then the opening T20 fixture with Wales NC at Falkland were both called off well in advance with the grounds suffering from days of wet weather.
In addition, warm-up matches with the RAF at Vine Lane and the Middlesex Academy at Binfield were also victims of the wet weather.
It means players are lacking match practice although they were able to get in two days of practice at the Eversley indoor centre.
The dual-registered Tom Scriven did see some match action and what a day it proved for the
Henley allrounder as he hammered 112 not out off
131 balls for Leicestershire in their 2nd XI draw with Lancashire at Southport. It was his first century for the Foxes as he followed up his 110 for Berkshire against Dorset at Wimborne last July.
When Bucks took on holders Oxfordshire in a double-header at Wormsley on Sunday, they met with mixed fortunes, winning the first by 10 runs
(145-5 against 135-8) before losing the second by four wickets with Oxon reaching 142-6 in 18.1 overs. Bucks’ 141-8 included a 24ball half-century by Saif Zaib who has rejoined them from Berkshire.
High Wycombe-born Zaib was named in Northamptonshire’s 13man squad for last week’s County Championship match against Middlesex, but left out of the final 11.
Berkshire will again be skippered by Dan Lincoln who after leaving Slough late last year was reported by Home Counties Premier League rivals High Wycombe to have joined them, but recently Wargrave announced he will be playing for them this season.