Berkshire and Oxfordshire had a win apiece when the neighbouring counties met at Wargrave on Sunday in a NCCA T20 group double-header.
Skippered by Johnny Connell for the first time, Berks lost the opening match by two wickets.
The Henley batter top-scored with 43 off just 13 balls as his side posted 180-9, with Oxon reaching their target in 18.2 overs largely thanks to Hayden Rossouw, who smashed 57 off 26 balls with six sixes and three fours.
Berkshire, however, gained swift revenge by winning the second game by 114 runs. Wargrave captain Rhys Lewis blasted 55 off 33 balls and Connell 35 from 14, helping the hosts to a decent total of 191-8.
And Lewis also starred with the ball, taking five wickets for 30 in four overs as Oxon were shot out for a mere 77 in 12.4 overs, their lowest total in the competition.
They never recovered from losing three wickets inside the first three overs with Henley’s Andy Rishton striking twice (2-8) and Wargrave’s Euan Woods (1-8) once.
Berkshire’s next opponents in Group 3 are Wales at Panteg on Sunday, June 14, which should see the Lewis brothers, Rhys and Rhodri, on opposing sides. Rhodri skippered Wales when they lost twice to Bedfordshire last Sunday.
Berkshire’s NCCA Trophy quarter-final tie with Buckinghamshire will be played at High Wycombe on Sunday, June 7. The two neighbouring
counties will also meet a fortnight later, on June 21, in the T20 at Wokingham’s Sadlers End ground.
On Wednesday last week (May 20), Berkshire played a strong Sussex sidein an NCCA Showcase T20 game at Horsham. They lost by 49 runs, but had
the man of the match in Johnny Connell.
The 23-year-old, who had trialled with Essex early in the season, plundered a brilliant 121 from just 53 balls.
Against an attack that included experienced England internationals Danny Briggs and Tymal Mills, Connell raced to his century from 44 balls with nine fours and eight sixes. He added four more fours before he lofted Danny Lamb to long off, having contributed 121 of
Berkshire’s first 167 runs. Their next highest scorer was James Isbell with 17. Briggs, who made one appearance for Berkshire in 2009, finished with four for 35 as Berkshire were dismissed for 177 with two balls left of their innings.
Earlier, Sussex’s 226-6 included half-centuries from James Coles (51), Dan Hughes (53) and Tom Haines (51).
