Dorset must 'stick to our guns' in Berkshire quarter-final

DORSET are looking to capitalise on their place in the NCCA Trophy quarter-finals after the cricketing gods smiled on them last weekend.

Having already played their four matches, bouncing back with two defeats after beginning with two losses, Dorset’s Group Four fate lied in the hands of Wiltshire and Hertfordshire.

Dorset needed defeats for both, and particularly Wiltshire by a large margin at Cheshire, to overhaul their neighbours on net run rate.

Amazingly, the stars aligned as Cheshire inflicted a heavy loss on Wilts and Wales picked up their first win of the competition to stun Herts.

READ MORE: Dorset reach NCCA Trophy quarter-finals after final-round drama

The result is a last-eight tie against old foes Berkshire tomorrow (11am), with Slough Cricket Club playing host to the 50-over game.

Looking ahead to the contest, Dorset captain Luke Webb feels his county’s place in the knockout stages was fully deserved.

He told Echosport: “We needed a few things to go our way on Sunday.

“I had half an eye on the scores, I can’t say I was particularly focused on it until later in the day when it seemed that it was going our way.

“To be honest, we deserved it in the sense that we put ourselves in that position. After the first two games we were staring down the barrel a little bit.

“So, to bounce back and win our second two games so convincingly that it even gave us a chance of going through, was a credit to the team.

“Then, obviously the rest was beyond our control. So, I was absolutely delighted.”

Dorset, like many other counties, have found prolific trophy winners Berkshire to be a major stumbling block in recent seasons.

“Berkshire have probably had the wool on the majority of teams they’ve played,” Webb admitted.

“They’ve been so successful but if we keep putting ourselves in these positions, in the knockout games, we will come up against top sides.

“If we keep improving every year, then we will come out on top. The last two games have been fantastic, we’re going into it with some good momentum.

“As long as we stick to our guns and keep doing what we’re doing, we’ve got every chance against what will be very, very good opposition.”

And mood in the camp is positive as Dorset look to make the most of their good fortune.

Webb added: “We’re really confident. Mainly because of the Wales game at Wimborne and the Wiltshire game at Warminster.

“We were fantastic, a lot of people were contributing with bat and ball and it was a real group effort to get us over the line in both games to give our run rate a boost.

“Everyone’s delighted that we’ve got another opportunity to go out and play because it did feel disappointing after the Wiltshire game.

“We were playing our best cricket of the season and the white ball felt like it had come to an end.

“To get another opportunity is just what everyone needed and everyone’s really confident and excited.”

Hampshire all-rounder Felix Organ misses out but England Under-19s batter Joseph Eckland comes in.

Dorset (from): Webb, J Gordon, Scott, J Eckland, F Gordon, Willows, A Eckland, Woodruff, Smith, Burton, Breckon, Tripcony.