22nd June 2023
| Matt Thompson
Denbigh captain Harrison Jones looks set to make his Wales NC senior debut on Sunday at Slough against Buckinghamshire as the curtain comes down on the NCCA One Day Trophy group stage.
Wales, seeking a third successive quarter final will be scratching their heads as to how they remain winless in the competition after three attempts this season after being in strong positions every round. A disappointing collpase chasing 180 againt Staffordshire was followed up by a narrow loss to Wiltshire in the final over, and another collpase with less than fifty runs needed against Dorset on the weekend sealed Wales' fate. Had they managed to squeeze out a result at Panteg last Sunday they would have headed to Bucks will it all to play for after Bucks beat Staffs by 9 wickets on Duckworth/Lewis. As it happens though, Sam Pearce will be looking for his side to register a win to close out the camapign, with the batters specifically owing the excellent bowling group some assistance.
With half an eye on the three day championship (due to start on 9th July) and the 2024 white ball season, Sunday represents an opportunity for the Wales management to see what some of the players on the periphery have to offer. Will Ryan, drafted in for a debut at late notice last weekend to cover for Will Smale retains his place in the side and will be joined by fellow North Walian Jones. The 29 year left arm spinning all rounder has been a main stay of Wales NC North - the feeder side to the senior team - and also featured in the winter with Wales NC, more recently turning out for a Cricket Wales Select XI who played the MCC earlier this month. This came off the back of a scintillating unbetean 163* against Northop in the Welsh Cup.
CAPTION: Will Ryan keeps his place in the side after his senior Wales NC debut last week against Dorset.
After impressing on debut for Gamorgan at The Kia Oval this week in the Vitality Blast, Will Smale is unavailable and Brad Wadlan takes a week off ahead of his head coach duties in the three day championship. The bowling group of Jack Harding, Saihaj Jaspal and Tegid Phillips flank Wales' new leading white ball taker in Rich Edwards with skipper Pearce and Jones adding their spin to the mix also.
The only meeting between the two sides earlier this year ended without a ball being bowled in the T20 group stage, so Bucks will be especially keen to right some wrongs from the 2022 season where Wals registered a 2-0 win in the T20 fixtures at High Wycombe before repeatign the feat in the one day trophy at Port Talbot.
Play from Slough commences from 11am with live stream capbility expected.
Wales NC from: SJ Pearce* (Lansdown), HLR Friend (Newport), CH Hemp, SH Roberts (both Swansea), WL Ryan (St Asaph), CL Herring+, (HG Jones (Denbigh), TD Phillips (Cardiff), ED Edwards (Neath), JC Harding (Taunton St Andrews), SBS Jaspal (Ammanford), O Rayner (Chepstow).
Buckinghamshire CCC from: AJ Woodland (High Wycombe), E Cox (Buckingham), C Marrow (Gerrards Cross), A Kervezee (Halesowen), R Richardson+ (Blackheath), E Bragg (Halesowen), H Ramanadanpulle (Buckingham), M Payne (Amersham), S Croft (Harefield), T Fleming (Gerards Cross, T Weymes (Tring Park), T Hampton (High Wycombe).
CAPTION: Jack Harding collected his career best figures for Wales last weekend with 4-38.