7th June 2023
| Matt Thompson
Wales head to Warminster on Sunday to take on Wiltshire, looking to get back on track in NCCA Group 4 of the One Day Trophy.
An impressive bowling display against Staffordshire two weeks ago, was not followed up by the batting group handing Wales an opening round 55 run loss at Port Talbot. With a bye week last weekend for Wales it is Ed Young's men who have taken an early foothold in the group by defeating Staffs and Buckinghamshire - one more win for them in their remaining two games will see them guarantee qualification to the quarter finals. Wales on the other hand must play catch up and look to register a win in the competiton sooner rather than later if they are seriosuly think about progresson themselves. A loss to Wiltshire this week won't spell the end of their campaign but it would mean they have to win their remaining two games against Dorset and Bucks whilst hoping that net run rate falls in their favour.
CAPTION: Wales will be looking to pick themselves back up after their loss to Staffordshire to start NCCA Group 4.
Wales have a decent record against Wiltshire in recent history, including a heavy 149 run victory in this tournament last year at Llandysul in addition to a 3 wicket win in the NCCA Championship last season at Panteg. They have however, been forced into two changes for the travelling squad to Warminster with Glamorgan's Alex Horton and Andy Gorvin unavailable. In comes left arm pacer Jack Harding who is set to make his one day trophy debut for Wales, having featured in the T20 competition and left arm seamer Saihaj Japsal who recently made a handful of appearances for the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) in the 2nd XI one day competition. Harry Friend remains unavailable due to exams and Morgan Bevans misses out despite striking the ball well for Glamorgan 2nd XI this week - Glamorgan's Ben Morris does make the trip whilst North Wales duo of Jason Foulkes and Harrison Jones can count themselves unlucky to not be given an opportunity. Foulkes has been in fine form for Nantwich this season in the Cheshire league whilst left arm spin all rounder Jones smashed an unbetean 163 in Denbigh's Welsh Cup win against Northop. Both line up in an invitational Cricket Wales XI against the MCC on Friday at Sudbrook to keep them in the shop window.
It's been a productive week for many of the Wales squad also this week, with Callum Nicholls striking 70 for Glamorgan 2nd XI in the SET20 competiton on top of a century for St Fagans whilst Will Smale smashed a 60 ball unbeaten 113* for the same side against Northants 2nd XI. Cam Hemp registered four wickets against a near full stength Dutch side whilst exeprienced seamer Richard Edwards is now just four wickets away from suprassing Aneurin Norman (40) in becoming Wales' leading one day trophy bowler in history after his 4-33 agaisnt Staffordshire two weeks ago.
CAPTION: Skipper Sam Pearce will be looking for a reaction from his side this weekend.
Even so, it won't be lost on skipper Sam Pearce that Wales need some performances too in NCCA cricket to stand a chance of reaching three knockout rounds in three years - something that Wales have never achieved since their insertion in 1988. They will have to get past skipper Young, formerly of Gloucestershire, former Glamorgan keeper batter Tom Cullen, and current Warwickshire staffer Jake Lintott. Left arm quick Josh Croom registered five wickets against Staffs last weekend and appears the Wiltshire bowler in form.
Play is due to start from 11am at Warminster with a live stream expected - admission for spectators is free.
Wales NC squad from: SJ Pearce* (Lansdown), CH Hemp (Swansea), WT Smale (Taunton Deane), CR Nicholls (St Fagans), SH Roberts (Swansea), BL Wadlan (Swansea), CL Herring+ (Pontarddulais), TD Phillips (Cardiff), RD Edwards (Neath), JC Harding (Taunton St Andrews), SBS Jaspal (Ammanford), BJ Morris (Pontarddulais).
Wiltshire CCC sqaud from: EGC Young*, J Goodwin, TN Cullen, JMA Mynott, BL Draper+, JB Lintott, HE Broderick, CD Aubrey, ABF Godsal, JN Croom, JM King, KJ Bennett-Thomas.