Lincoln stars as Berkshire get off to a flying start
BERKSHIRE County Cricket Club warmed up for the start of the NCCA T20 competition with two emphatic wins over Wiltshire at Tidworth, securing the Marlborough Cup in the process, writes David Wright. They defeated Wiltshire by 24 runs in the first game and by eight wickets in the second, where new skipper Dan Lincoln hammered 53 off just 22 balls with five sixes and four fours.
In the opener, Berkshire scored 1189, with Euan Wood (38) and Andy Rishton (25) top-scoring, before Max
Uttley claimed 4-9 to help skittle Wilts out for 94 in 16.2 overs. Berkshire will face tougher opponents on Easter Sunday when they take on NCCA Championship holders Oxfordshire at Falkland CC in Group 4, with the games starting at 11am and 2.30pm.
Oxon also won two T20 friendlies last weekend, defeating Free Foresters by seven wickets in one game and by 10 runs in the other. Berkshire Women were also in
T20 action last weekend, playing two games against Middlesex at Falkland.
In the first they made 117-7 (Mia Rogers 37, Freya Johnson 31), but went on to lose by four wickets (119-6).
The second game saw Middlesex post 139-4 with Berkshire managing only 89-8 in reply to lose by 50 runs. n The Marlborough Cup is not the first trophy to come Berkshire’s way this season, as their seniors side recently won the Malta O60 Festival by defeating Essex, Norfolk, Sussex and a combined Kent/Bedfordshire side.
With a number of players unable to travel, the squad was boosted by two from Essex Seniors (one of whom had toured with Berkshire before) and three friends of players. One of the guests, Ian Milligan from Cheshire, hit two half-centuries and missed out on another by one run. He was rewarded with the tournament’s top player award, although Phil Ridgeway was named Berkshire’s best player in addition to taking the tournament’s best bowling award.
Ian Stuart recorded Berkshire’s highest score of 73no in a total of 172-4 to beat Essex (169-4) by six wickets.