NCCA 50-Over Trophy 2025 - Week 4 Preview

Eleven counties will be in contention for the four remaining places in next month’s National Counties Trophy quarter-finals when the final group matches are played on Sunday May 18.

In Group One there is a straight shoot-out between Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire at Sawston to determine who will join Northumberland, who sit out the final round of matches, in the last eight.

Cambridgeshire are boosted by the return of the experienced county pair of Wayne White (Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lancashire) and James Sykes (Leicestershire) and also include slow left-armer George Darlow against his old county.

Darlow took his maiden Trophy five wicket haul in last week’s win against Cumbria having only joined Cambridgeshire two weeks ago.

Bedfordshire have added batter Jamie Dunk, who is trialling with Leicestershire, to the side that inflicted a first defeat on Northumberland last week..

In Group Two Staffordshire and Herefordshire both need Shropshire to do them a favour by beating Suffolk at Mildenhall.

Shropshire booked their quarter-final place by beating Staffordshire last week while Suffolk’s defeat at home to Herefordshire kept the door open for them and Staffordshire.

Shropshire have named an unchanged side while Suffolk have called up Tom Rash and Sudbury batter Adam Jones in place of Kieran Pell and the unavailable Matt Wareing.

Staffordshire face deposed holders Norfolk at Sprowston with paceman Rory Haydon, fresh from an eight wickets match haul for Derbyshire’s Second XI against Leicestershire, back in the squad.

Joe Hawkins replaces Reeve Evitts who has been rested after a busy start to the new season.

In Group Three Devon will secure their quarter-final place if they can beat already-qualified Berkshire at Blundell’s School.

But a Devon defeat would leave them vulnerable as Buckinghamshire  are hosting Oxfordshire at Tring. The winners of that match - assuming it is not a tie or a washout – would finish level on points with Devon with the second quarter-final place being determined by net run rate.

It is the first time since 1989 that Devon have played at Tiverton-based Blundell’s and their squad includes batter Fin Hill who made a century against them for Somerset in a T20 Showcase Match at Exmouth on Thursday.

Jamie Stephens returns to the squad as the addition to the side which beat Cornwall last Sunday.

All-rounder Josh Lincoln returns to Berkshire’s squad with slow left-armer Adam Searle called up for the first time this season.

Buckinghamshire welcome back left-arm spinner Conner Haddow and batter Aadi Sharma from county Second XI duty with Northamptonshire against Surrey this week.

Oxfordshire include seamer Oliver Avinou, who has played Second XI cricket for Sussex, for a possible debut.

Cheshire need to beat already-qualified Dorset at Didsbury if they are to join them as the second qualifier from Group Four.

But a home defeat could allow the winners of the Hertfordshire v Wiltshire match at Hitchin to pip them.

Cheshire are boosted by the return of former Leicestershire and Northamptonshire seamer Michael Finan and spinner Steven Green.

Hertfordshire have included batter Charlie Scott for his first county appearance in two years and recalled batter David Burnell who has missed their last two matches.

Josh Kelly and Stan Brown return for Wiltshire in place of Jack Campbell and Tom Cheater.

There is only one dead rubber in Sunday’s round of matches and that is at Furness where Cumbria host Lincolnshire to decide who finished bottom of Group One.

Cumbria give a debut to Netherfield opening bowler Josh Willis, who has come through the county’s pathway system, and they have recalled batter Nathan Waterston for his first county appearance in two years.

Lincolnshire have added Grantham batter Qundeel Haider to the side beaten by Bedfordshire two weeks ago.

Herefordshire, who have completed their group programme, will monitor events at Sawston and Sprowston from Brockhampton where they are playing two T20 matches against MCC on Sunday.

Herefordshire’s side includes four locally-produced players in Luke Powell, Luke Tulacz, Alex Hinkley and Ollie Langford with Ben Clarke set for his seasonal debut.

National Counties Trophy

Sunday May 18 (11am)

Group One

Sawston: Cambridgeshire v Bedfordshire. Furness: Cumbria v Lincolnshire.

Group Two

Sprowston: Norfolk v Staffordshire. Mildenhall: Suffolk v Shropshire.

Group Three

Tring: Buckinghamshire v Oxfordshire. Blundell’s School: Devon v Berkshire.

Group Four

Didsbury: Cheshire v Dorset. Hitchin: Hertfordshire v Wiltshire.

Friendly

Brockhampton: Herefordshire v MCC (2xT20s)

Showcase Match (T20)

Thursday May 15

Exmouth: Somerset 173-8 (Fin Hill 55, Matt Jeacock 4-30), Devon 151-5 (Callum Harvey 39 not out, Adam Small 35). Somerset won by runs.