Cumbria have named an unchanged side for their latest game in the NCCA Trophy competition – but it will be their toughest test to date.
After victories over Lincolnshire (away) and Herefordshire (home) they now travel to Banbury to take on a buoyant Oxfordshire side on Sunday.
Oxfordshire have only played one Trophy game so far, beating Herefordshire by five wickets, but they are on a high after winning the National T20 competition last month.
Having already clinched the National three-day title in September it’s fair to say that Cumbria will be lining up against the best all round National Counties side of the day who currently hold two of the three NCCA trophies.
In winning the three-day crown Oxfordshire were ending a 32-year wait for a repeat title, having opened finals day with a semi-final win against Cheshire by 20 runs.
Cambridgeshire beat Dorset in the other semi-final and made a strong start in the final against Oxon.
However, Oxon came back and reached the target of 170 with two wickets and four balls to spare.
Oxfordshire had a decent side in the 1970s and 80s and the present squad is being compared as a second golden age.
But Cumbria will be concentrating on their own performance on Sunday and like their hosts will be going into it full of confidence.
Their final group game is at Keswick on Sunday, June 26 when they take-on Northumberland, a side they have already beaten in T20 cricket.
The team for Sunday is: Michael Slack (Carlisle captain), Gary Pratt (Richmondshire), Sam Dutton (Furness), Marcus Stables (Nantwich), Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth), Paul Hindmarch (Keswick), Finlay Richardson (Netherfield wk), Nico Watt (Carlisle), Brodie Glendinning (Newcastle), James McGown (Keswick), Matthew Siddall (Cockermouth).The match is scheduled to start at 11am.
