Herefordshire boosted by the return of skipper Matt Pardoe

9 Aug 2024   |   By Richard Prime

HEREFORDSHIRE head to Dorset this weekend for their penultimate NCCA Championship Western Division 2 match knowing that thy need to win at least one, and perhaps both, of their final two games to have a chance of regaining the Division One status they lost last season.

After drawing their first two games, both of which were badly affected by the weather, Herefordshire are at the foot of the five-team division.

But all five sides are separated by just 12 points and Herefordshire have a game in hand over Wiltshire and Dorset, the two sides immediately ahead of them in the table.

The last round of games, which Herefordshire missed as it was their bye weekend, were played to a conclusion, allowing Shropshire, whom Herefordshire will entertain at Eastnor in their final game starting on August 18, to take over at the head of the table after beating Wiltshire.

Herefordshire will be boosted by the return of skipper Matt Pardoe and his deputy Nick Hammond who both missed the last drawn match against Wales.

And there is first call-up for Halesowen spinner Ciaran Baker-Smith who joins clubmates Pardoe, James Rudge and Luke Tulacz in the Herefordshire side.

Coach Richard Skyrme will be hoping that seam-bowling all-rounder Roshan Venkataraman will continue his fine form with the ball.

The paceman has taken 11 wickets in his two games to date, making him the leading wicket-taker in the division.

Play at Wimborne is due to get under way at 11am on Sunday.

Herefordshire: Matt Pardoe (capr), Ben Chapman-Lilley, Taylor Cornall, Henry Cullen, Nick Hammond, Ollie Walker, Luke Tulacz, Luke Powell, Roshan Venkaraman, James Rudeg, Ciaran Baker-Smith.

CAPTION: Roshan Venkataraman is the leading wicket-taker in NCCA Western Division 2.