Johnny Connell blasted two half-centuries as Berkshire powered their way into the National Counties T20 Finals Day with comfortable victories in their two Group Three games at Slough on Sunday.
They defeated Shropshire and then Cornwall both by six wickets.
In the morning match, Dan Lincoln’s men restricted Shropshire to 135-4, which owed much to middle-order batter Ollie Currill’s unbeaten 53 off 41 balls, while Andre Bradford was run out for 36.
Henley opener Connell needed just 28 deliveries to make 52, hitting four sixes and three fours whilst sharing an opening stand of 55 with Lincoln, who raced to 34 off 14 balls.
The Berkshire innings stuttered at 69 when Matt Dalrymple (four) and Toby Albert (zero) were both bowled by Lewis Evans in quick succession, but Wargrave duo Euan Woods (30no) and Rhodri Lewis (16no) took their side to 139 in the 14th over with 35 runs coming off just two overs.
Shropshire (67 all out) made an early exit from Upton Court Park after losing to Cornwall (70-1) by nine wickets in the second match which lasted for a total of 26 overs.
Cornwall, last season’s beaten finalists, batted first against Berkshire and solid contributions from Max Tryfonos (35 not out), Alex Bone (34), Paul Smith (31) and Karl Leathley (24) saw them post a competitive 149 for seven.
But Berkshire made light work of the chase with Connell making 61 from 34 balls with three sixes and seven fours, and Henley team-mate Matt Dalrymple 34 to see them home by six wickets with 14 balls to spare.
The Finals Day is being held at Chester Boughton Hall CC on Sunday, May 26. Oxfordshire will face Cumbria in the first semi-final starting at 10am, followed by Berks versus defending champions Staffordshire at 1pm. The final is scheduled for 4.30pm.
By Dave Wright
