T20 Week 4 Preview

Hertfordshire have become the second side to qualify for this season's National Counties T20 Finals Day at Tring Park on May 21.

Hertfordshire had needed to win one of their matches against Suffolk at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday to clinch Group Three.

However both of those matches have now been cancelled due to waterlogging and the two points Hertfordshire have gained have settled the issue.

Hertfordshire, who won the T20 competition in 2019, join Berkshire as the sides already through to Finals Day.

The double washout ended Suffolk's hopes of overtaking Hertfordshire and also scuppered Cambridgeshire's Finals Day hopes.

Cambridgeshire have yet to complete a match this season and their only cricket has been 95 minutes in the field against Suffolk two weeks ago. They complete their group programme with a double-header against Norfolk at Horsford on Sunday.

Seamer Andy Hanby will make his seasonal bow for Norfolk who have also recalled Will Bowman and included Cromer opening batter Nat Laws, a product of the county’s age group system, in their squad for a possible debut.

The winners of the other two groups have yet to be decided with Staffordshire and Dorset, leaders of Group One and Two respectively, monitoring the final group matches from afar as they have already played their eight matches.

Staffordshire improved their prospects of progressing to Finals Day when they beat Cheshire by ten runs at Nantwich on Monday, one of only four matches in Group One that have produced results in a particularly wet start to the season. 

Bizarrely Cumbria, who have yet to set foot on the field having seen all three of their scheduled double-headers washed out, could still overtake Staffordshire if they beat Cheshire twice – and the weather – at Netherfield on Sunday. 

Cumbria welcome back batter Marcus Stables in the one change to the squad that was selected for last weekend’s abandoned double-headers against Northumberland and Shropshire. 

Sam Grant, Steve Green and Andy Dufty are in line for their seasonal debuts for Cheshire. 

A double for Northumberland, who inflicted Staffordshire’s only defeat two weeks ago, against Shropshire at South Northumberland CC could also take them to the top of the group. Net run rate will be the deciding factor if sides finish level on points. 

Northumberland will give a debut to paceman Oliver Gibson, who joins his Durham team-mate Luke Doneathy in the squad. All-rounder Sean Tindale is set for his first county appearance in two years. 

Shropshire have included Shifnal’s 17-year-old slow left-armer Theo Wylie in their squad for the for the first time. Wylie’s club-mate, off-spinner Shaun Lorimer, returns to the squad but Mitchell Stanley and Olly Westbury are unavailable and George Hargrave is ruled out by a hamstring injury. 

In Group Two Dorset are top but have also completed their group programme. They need  Devon to do them a favour by beating Cornwall in at least one of the matches at Cornwood to secure their place at Finals Day. 

Cornwall give a debut to batter Xavie Clarke who has transferred from Shropshire. Devon have called up Scotland Under-19 all-rounder Sam Elstone for a possible debut. Elstone, who is playing club cricket for Sidmouth, replaces Sam Read who has been ruled out by a dislocated finger. 

Herefordshire face Wiltshire at Eastnor in their only home Group Two match with batter Ollie Rogoff called up for the first time in four years having impressed for the Second XI against Warwickshire Academy on Thursday. Alex Hinkley and Connor Smith return in place of Ben Chapman-Lilley and Adam Hines. 

Seamer Keron Bennett-Thomas will make his seasonal debut for Wiltshire who again have former Warwickshire left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott available. 

As Berkshire have already wrapped up Group Four the four other counties will be playing for the places and pride on Sunday. 

Buckinghamshire welcome back Northamptonshire Academy batter Aadi Sharma against Bedfordshire at High Wycombe. 

Bedfordshire have called up batter Nabil Moughal to replace Worcestershire’s Kashif Ali. 

Wales NC, who finally got on to the pitch in Monday’s double defeat against Bedfordshire, host Oxfordshire at Pontarddulais. 

Wales can call on batter Tom Bevan for the first time since he signed a two-year contract with Glamorgan.

Two more contracted Glamorgan players, Ben Kellaway and Ben Morris are also available,Tegid Phillips returns from a foot injury and 18-year-old Henry Hurle will make his debut.

National Counties T20 

Sunday May 7 (11am and 2.30pm) 

Group One 

Netherfield: Cumbria v Cheshire, South Northumberland CC: Northumberland v Shropshire. 

Group Two 

Cornwood: Devon v Cornwall, Eastnor: Herefordshire v Wiltshire 

Group Three 

Horsford: Norfolk v Cambridgeshire. 

Group Four 

High Wycombe: Buckinghamshire v Bedfordshire, Pontarddulais: Wales NC v Oxfordshire.