16th June 2023
| Matt Thompson
Wales entertain Dorset this Sunday at Panteg, knowing that nothing short of a victory (ideally a convincing one for run rate purposes) will spell the end of their hopes of a third successive quarter final.
A rain reduced match against Wiltshire last weekend needed to fall Wales’ way for them to keep qualification in their own hands, but they ended up on the wrong side of a tense affair in which the hosts triumphed by six runs. Jack Mynott (64) and Ben Draper (58) were the main run getters in Wiltshire 33 overs as they amassed 236-7 – Josh Kelly chipping in with a spritely 34 off 17 balls with the wickets being shared amongst Brad Wadlan (2-32), Richard Edwards (2-38) and Saihaj Jaspal (2-46).
CAPTION: Richard Edwards is now two wickets away from becoming Wales' all time one day trophy wicket taker. Photo Credit: Roy Honeybone.
After the early departure of Cam Hemp, Will Smale (40) and Callum Nicholls (24) shared in a 55 run stand before the latter found Tom Cullen off the bowling of Broderick. Smale and Steff Roberts followed soon after but Brad Wadlan (74*) remained firm and began chipping away at the target with Cameron Herring who blasted a quick 30 before picking out deep mid wicket off Ed Young. That sparked an all too familiar Welsh collapse but Wadlan upped the tempo played an array of impressive strokes to bring Wales within touching distance. With 14 needed off the final over he couldn’t find the boundary enough which left too big an ask for last man Jack Harding off the final delivery. Wiltshire secured qualification to the quarter finals from the result which leaves any of Wales, Staffordshire or Dorset in contention to qualify.
Wales need to win their remaining two games and hope Staffs and Dorset lose their remaining ones which is possible even if it’s a lot to hope for. Ben Morris is unavailable for Sunday’s encounter which paves the way for Tegid Phillips to make his first one day trophy appearance of the season. Harry Friend returns from exams to replace Callum Nicholls in the only other change.
CAPTION: Brad Wadlan almost hauled Wales over the line single handedley but had too much to do in the last over.
Dorset await confirmation from Sussex’s Brad Currie as to his availability but otherwise field plenty of familiar names from previous years including the family duo of Alex and Joseph Eckland. Play starts rom Panteg at 11am with attendance free for spectators.
Wales NC squad from: SJ Pearce* (Lansdown), HLR Friend (Newport), WT Smale (Taunton Deane), CH Hemp (Swansea), SH Roberts (Swansea), BL Wadlan (Swansea), CL Herring+ (Pontarddulais), TD Phillips (Cardiff), RD Edwards (Neath), JC Harding (Taunton St Andrews), SBS Jaspal (Ammanford).
Dorset CCC from: L Webb*, J Gordon, J Eckland+, D Scott, A Eckland, W Tripony, S Woodruff, C Smith, B Currie, O Breckon, T Pattemore, B Chaffey, L Del Bianco.