BERKSHIRE made a winning start to their defence of the NCCA Trophy, defeating Bedfordshire by four runs in a tense finish at Dunstable CC on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.
The holders made a solid beginning and with opener Archie Carter making 83 and Dan Lincoln 85 not out, they posted a useful total of 265-5 from their 50 overs.
Bedfordshire had 103 runs on the board before losing their second wicket, but were some way behind the required run-rate and it was beginning to look as if Berkshire would go on to win comfortably.
However, the hosts then came alight with Matt Coles, the former Kent, Essex and Hampshire all-rounder, pummelling 42 from 17 balls, while Henry Warren crashed 20 off nine and Matt Taylor 34 from as many balls.
The batsmen were particularly severe on spinner Max Uttley, smashing him for 21 runs (6,6,4,1,2,2) in one over.
Battling Bedfordshire, with their last pair at the crease, needed 10 runs off the final over and a six off the last ball to pull off an unlikely victory, but paceman Andy Rishton, who took over from Uttley, bowled very tightly and conceded only five singles, leaving Beds on 261-9.
Euan Woods was the pick of the Berkshire bowlers with 4-40, while Luke Beaven claimed
2-59, Chris Peploe 1-39, Uttley 1-78 and Tom Nugent 1-23.
Berkshire’s next group game in the Trophy is against Oxfordshire at Falkland CC on Sunday, June 13.
