Rain misery can’t dent Morris’ belief
SKIPPER James Morris believes Berkshire will go down as the best side in the Unicorns Championship this season – even if they don’t top the Western Division.
Berkshire trail Shropshire by five points with just one round of matches to play, but that was only after an agonising end to proceedings this week in a topthem of-the-table clash with Cornwall.
Cornwall were bowled out for 92 on day one before Berkshire declared on a hefty 325-6 from 64 overs.
And despite Cornwall teetering on 8-1 in their second innings at the end of the first day, no play was possible on day two or three leaving Berkshire forced to settle for a draw.
“We didn’t bowl another ball after day one, there was a very short conversation on the third day but water had got under the covers,” explained Morris.
“It’s very frustrating, we feel we have been the best side in the competition but we need a favour from Wiltshire (who play leaders Shropshire).
“When we played Shropshire earlier this season, we beat pretty convincingly.”
Berkshire welcome Dorset to Finchampstead on August 14 needing to maximise their points and then hope that Wiltshire can stop Shropshire.
And after finishing as runners-up to Oxfordshire in the Western Division last year following four wins and two draws, Morris insists his team will do everything possible to avoid a similar fate.
“If we beat Dorset it will be two seasons we have not lost a game,” he added.
“It would mean everything (to reach the final) we have put a huge amount of work in to try and go that one step further.
“I will be extremely disappointed if we don’t get there but we will still be able to reflect on a pretty special year.
“We have played such a successful entertaining brand of cricket and we won’t be changing that, we will be positive and if we can play as we have been we will win the game.
“We can keep up to date with scores on our phones but we need to make sure we do our job first.”
In the Eastern Division, the top two were the only teams able to secure results as leaders Northumberland beat Norfolk by 47 runs and Lincolnshire beat Cumberland by 150 runs.
It means just two points separate the sides going into their final game, where Staffordshire welcome Lincolnshire to Knypersley and Cambridgeshire travel to Northumberland.