HEREFORDSHIRE entertain Suffolk in their final NCCA 50-over competition group match at Colwall on Sunday.

20 Jun 2024   |   By Richard Prime

HEREFORDSHIRE will be hoping that history will repeat itself when they entertain Suffolk in their final NCCA 50-over competition group match at Colwall on Sunday.

Suffolk have only once before visited Herefordshire in this competition and that game at Brockhampton back in 1995 produced one of the more remarkable results in the county’s history.

Suffolk batted first and posted an impressive 301-8 from their 50 overs.

But Herefordshire, led by current coach Richard Skyrme, scorched past their target with more than six overs to spare without losing a wicket as Martin Weston (157 not out) and Harshad Patel (126 not out) dominated the visiting attack.

On Sunday, both sides will be seeking the victory they need to have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition.

A win for Suffolk would see them automatically join Norfolk, whom they beat last weekend, in the competition’s last eight. Norfolk, who have completed their programme, top the table with six points from their four games and are sure of their last-eight place.

A win for Herefordshire would see them join Suffolk and the winners of the match between Shropshire and Staffordshire on four points in the group table. It would then be down to net run rate to decide which of the three counties would move forward.

Herefordshire make three changes from the side which was beaten by Shropshire at Whitchurch last Sunday.

The batting is boosted by the return of former Worcestershire opener Taylor Cornall and experienced vice-captain Nick Hammond while seamer Adam Hines comes in for his first game in this season’s competition.

Brothers Olly and Toby Cox and off-spinning all-rounder Imaad Mahmood are the three players to drop out of the side.

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

Herefordshire: Matt Pardoe (captain), Nick Hammond, Ben Chapman-Lilley, Taylor Cornall, Daniyal Khan, Ollie Walker, Luke Tulacz, Luke Powell, James Rudge, Sam Keeling-Wright, Adam Hines. Twelfth man: Indiana Jerram.

CAPTION: Vice-captain Nick Hammond returns to the Herefordshire side.