8th June 2021
| Matt Thompson
Wales NC have named an unchanged XI from the side that beat Buckinghamshire two weeks ago at High Wycombe.
A fine all round performance from experienced head Aneurin Norman saw Wales chase 197 with an over to spare setting up a fascinating encounter against visiting Bedfordshire this Sunday at Lisvane. The visitors narrowly came second best to One Day Cup holders Berkshire in the first round of games falling short in their pursuit of 265 by 4 runs.
Like Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire are almost strangers to Wales with the two sides having only played each other once in National Counties history - a one day cup knockout encounter in 1995. Skipper George Thurstance is no stranger to South Wales however, with the 29 year old a graduate of the Cardiff UCCE scheme between 2011 and 2013 - a hundred against Gloucestershire at Bristol being the highlight.
Glamorgan followers will also remember batsman James Kettleborough who enjoyed two years on the professional staff before being released in 2016. Former Kent and Essex all rounder Matt Coles, who has amassed over 580 wickets in first class, List A and T20 cricket leads the bowling attack.
Nonetheless, Wales head into Sunday's encounter knowing a victory will leave them in a healthy position to qualify for the knockout stages with Oxfordshire and Berkshire left to play. It's an opportunity captain Sam Pearce is all too aware of. He said, "we really want to build on a fortnight ago. Momentum is really important in these types of competitions so we want to keep that going into Sunday. Obviously it was good to get a result against Bucks but we know we can be better, particularly with the bat. Bedfordshire look a strong side so we'll need to be at our best, but as we said from the outset - we back ourselves to rise to the challenge."
Wales' batters will be keen to apply the same form that has been enjoyed in recent weeks - Cameron Herring smashed a hundred in the Welsh Cup against Llanelli, as did skipper Pearce against table toppers St Fagans. Steven Reingold continued his fine start to the season notching another half century and Tom Bevan's brisk 77 against Loughborough helped Cardiff UCCE reach the University One Day Cup final.
Sunday's match starts at 11am and on the back of the Welsh government's latest update - spectators are permitted. Entry to the ground is FREE.
Wales NC from: SJ Pearce* (Bridgend), TR Bevan (St Fagans), SJ Reingold (Neath), CR Brown, OMD Kolk (both Lansdown), GC Holmes (Cardiff), CL Herring+ (Pontarddulais), AW Gorvin (St Fagans), AJ Norman (Mumbles), TD Phillips (Cardiff), RD Edwards (Port Talbot), TL Jones (Bridgend).