BERRY SPARKLES AS CHESHIRE START WITH A WIN

scorecard from Netherfield

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire Press Officer, 07813 859986)

A FINE all-round performance from Daniel Berry helped Cheshire start their season with a welcome win.
The Hyde player impressed with bat and ball for his county as they beat Cumberland at Netherfield CC in their opening match in this year's MCCA Knockout Trophy on Sunday.
Berry top-scored with an unbeaten 87 from 77 balls to help Cheshire recover from 102-7 to post 233-9 from their allotted 50 overs.
And then the off-spinner starred with a 5-33 return as Cumberland slipped from relative comfort at 120-3 to 215 all out in their reply.
"It wasn't a great start to the season, but the main thing is we've got the win," reflected Cheshire team manager Sandy Scrimgeour.
"The first 15 overs of our innings were fine, but from a good start we were in a lot of trouble.
"We did well to post 233. It was a modest total, but all credit to the team because we bowled and fielded very well."

Cheshire were forced to make one change before the match with Hyde seamer Tom Young ruled outwith a groin injury, so Macclesfield bowler James Hawley (pictured) made his debut for the county.
And, having lost the toss and been asked to bat, Cheshire started well with openers Warren Goodwin and Danny Leech putting on 68 for the first week.
Goodwin went on to make 54, but Cheshire conspired to lose seven wickets for 34 runs.
But Berry and Alderley Edge all-rounder Jason Whittaker staged a valiant recovery, putting on 84 runs in an important eighth wicket stand.
Berry then hit three sixes and two fours, added to a single off the opening ball from Hawley, as Cheshire scored 27 runs off the last over.

Those runs proved crucial as Cumberland fell 18 runs short in their reply.
Alex Stead top-scored with 70 for the hosts and Alex Roberts (44) and former Durham professional Gary Pratt (36) were also in the runs, but Cheshire worked hard to take wickets at regular intervals.
Berry did the bulk of the damage while Bowdon seamer Adam Syddall also impressed with three wickets - and Nathan Dumelow and Whittaker claimed a wicket each.
From 139 the hosts lost their last seven wickets for 76 runs as Cheshire claimed two points to go top of the Group 1 qualifying table.
"Danny Berry had a great game for us," added Scrimgeour. "He's always been a promising talent, but last year he won us a game against Wales with an unbeaten knock of 85."
Bedfordshire are second after they beat Oxfordshire by five wickets. Chasing Oxford's 277-7 from 50 overs, Bedfordshire reached 280-5 with seven balls to spare.

Northamptonshire batsman Alex Wakely smashed an unbeaten 180 from 147 balls for Bedfordshire, an innings which included 25 fours and six sixes.

Scorecard
Cheshire 233-9, 50 overs (D Berry 87 not out, W Goodwin 54, J Whittaker 40, D Conway 4-32, A Stead 3-25)
FOW: 68, 91, 91, 93, 95, 95, 102, 186, 203

Cumberland 215 all out, 49.4 overs (A Stead 70, A Roberts 44 not out, G Pratt 36, D Berry 5-33, A Syddall 3-51)
FOW: 35, 73, 120, 139, 162, 173, 174, 189, 205, 215

Cheshire team: Danny Leech (Oulton Park), Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall), Andy Hall (Bramhall, captain), Ben Spendlove (Oulton Park), James Duffy (Hyde), Nathan Dumelow (Oulton Park), Jason Whittaker (Alderley Edge), Matthew Dawson (Bramhall, wicketkeeper), Daniel Berry (Hyde), Adam Syddall (Bowdon), James Hawley (Macclesfield). 12th man: Ollie Hall (Chester Boughton Hall). Scorer: Jim Law.

Result: Cheshire won by 18 runs. Cheshire 2pts, Cumberland 0pts

CHESHIRE AT FULL-STRENGTH FOR SEASON OPENER

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire Press Officer, 07813 859986)

CHESHIRE have named a strong 12-man squad ahead of their opening match of the season this weekend.

The former Minor Counties champions take on Cumberland on Sunday in their first group match in this year's MCCA Knockout Trophy.

And having been knocked out at the quarter-final stages of last year's competition, it's understandable team manager Sandy Scrimgeour would love for his side go ever further this time around.

Cheshire beat Cumberland by 14 runs in a rain-affected match which was reduced to 25 overs last season - and Scrimgeour expects a tough opener to this season's 50-over campaign at Netherfield Cricket Club.

"We got the quarter-finals last season and didn't play to the standard we know we're capable of, we were well beaten by Devon," said Scrimgeour.

"But we're really looking forward to the new season and hopefully we can have a good run in Trophy.

"We want to well in both competitions [the Championship and Trophy], the one-day format is a sprint and the three-day format is a marathon.

"Cumberland will be a good side, but we've got a strong squad and been able to keep a lot of players from last season. It's important to have a consistent side."

In previous seasons the MCCA Trophy final has been played at Lords, but this year it will be played at Durham's Riverside ground.

"There's always been an incentive to play at Lords, but the chance to play at the Riverside would be great for any county," added Scrimgeour.

"We've got a strong side for Sunday, it's pretty much the same players we used last year. I know they're all looking forward to starting the season."

Cheshire team: Danny Leech (Oulton Park), Warren Goodwin (Chester BH), Andy Hall (captain-Bramhall), Ben Spendlove (Oulton Park), James Duffy (Hyde), Nathan Dumelow (Oulton Park), Jason Whittaker (Alderley Edge), Matthew Dawson (wicketkeeper-Bramhall), Daniel Berry (Hyde), Adam Syddall (Bowdon), Tom Young (Hyde), James Hawley (Macclesfield).