NCCA 50-Over Trophy 2025 - Quarter-Final Review

Shropshire, Suffolk, Berkshire and Dorset booked their places in the National Counties Trophy semi-finals with victories over Northumberland, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire and Buckinghamshire respectively in today’s quarter-finals.

Shropshire reached the semi-finals for the first time in seven years but were pushed hard by Northumberland at Shifnal thanks to a brilliant century from John Oswell.

Shropshire appeared to be easing to a more comfortable victory when they reduced Northumberland to 107 for seven with their quartet of spinners again enjoying themselves at Priorslee Road. But Oswell had other ideas and he threatened to win the match single handedly by pummelling 107 from 93 balls with six sixes and eight fours.

It was a wonderful display of controlled aggression and it had Shropshire twitching nervously until Oswell was bowled around his legs by Ben Roberts. Every Shropshire players congratulated Oswell on his innings before he left to a deserved standing ovation but there was also plenty of relief that he had departed.

Slow left-armer Jacques Banton was the pick of Shropshire’s bowlers with four for 28 with his opening spell applying the brakes after Northumberland had reached 46 for one in the first ten overs of their chase. But only 53 runs were chiselled out of the next 20 overs which left Oswell with a little too much to do when he had only the tail to keep him company.

Spin also dominated in Shropshire’s innings with Newcastle slow left-armer Joe Stuart impressing on his Northumberland debut by taking three for 45 after George Hargrave (57) and Tom fell (35) had added 62 for the second wicket.

From looking on course for a 300-plus total, Shropshire were in danger of being dismissed for under 200 until Joe Stanley (55) and Ben Lees (22) added 65 in a crucial eighth wicket partnership that took them to a competitive 252 for nine.

Shropshire will now host Suffolk in the semi-finals on June 22.

Suffolk were the day’s early winners as they beat Cambridgeshire by five wickets in an East Anglia derby at Exning which avenged a defeat at the same ground in last season’s quarter-final.

George Rhodes, the former Worcestershire and Leicestershire off-spinner, was the architect of Suffolk’s win with a five wicket haul which helped to dismiss Cambridgeshire for an inadequate 153 inside 44 overs.

Left-arm seamer Matt Wareing provided excellent support with three for 12 and Callum Guest (33) was the only Cambridgeshire batter to reach 30.

Suffolk’s chase was led by an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 65 between Darren ironside (45 not out) and Alex Oxley (30 not out) and they got home with more than seven overs to spare.

Berkshire will have home advantage against Dorset in the other semi-final after both enjoyed comfortable passages through the quarter-finals.

Berkshire beat Cheshire by 139 runs at the Falkland club which avenged a defeat in last season’s semi-final at Alderley Edge.

Charlie Dunnett’s maiden Trophy century was the centrepiece of Berkshire’s imposing 308 for seven in which he also shared a county record third wicket partnership of 155 with his captain, Dan Lincoln.

Lincoln was also in sparkling form with his 95 coming from 110 balls with three sixes and seven fours with Dunnett’s career-best from 114 balls containing 11 fours and a six.

Cheshire never got to grips with a stiff chase and were restricted initially by Andy Rishton (three for 24) then by spinners Adam Searle (three for 27) and Sulaiman Akhtar (three for 28).

Rohan Luthra fired a few defiant shots in his 44 but Cheshire needed a more substantial innings from at least one of their specialist batters.

Dorset’s 47 runs victory over Buckinghamshire at Wimborne was based on aggressive innings from the Eckland brothers, Joe and Alex.

Hampshire staff man Joe struck 13 fours in his 85-ball 86 while Alex provided late acceleration with 40 from 25 balls.

Buckinghamshire were very much in the hunt when skipper Alexei Kervezee (74 from 67 balls) and Cam Hemp (42) were adding 78 for the third wicket.

But the chase stalled after Kervezee departed with three wickets going down for seven runs in costly mini-collapse.

Dorset new-ball pair of Joe Carson (four for 42) and Henry Dunlop (three for 30) stifled Buckinghamshire’s resistance.

National Counties Trophy quarter finals

Exning: Cambridgeshire 153 (George Rhodes 5-31, Matt Wareing 3-12), Suffolk 156-5 (Darren Ironside 45 not out). Suffolk won by five wickets.

Shifnal: Shropshire 252-9 (George Hargrave 57, Joe Stanley 55, Joe Stuart 3-45), Northumberland 229 (John Oswell 107, Jacques Banton 4-28). Shropshire won by 23 runs.

Falkland: Berkshire 308-7 (Charlie Dunnett 101 not out, Dan Lincoln 95), Cheshire 169 (Rohan Luthra 44, Andy Rishton 3-24, Adam Searle 3-27, Sulaiman Akhtar 3-28). Berkshire won by 139 runs.

Wimborne: Dorset 278-9 (Joe Eckland 86, Tom Weymes 3-53), Buckinghamshire 231 (Alexei Kervezee 74, Cam Hemp 42, Joe Carson 4-42, Henry Dunlop 3-30). Dorset won by 47 runs.