
Weather permitting, the Cumbria County side will play two T20 double headers on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
The first is a trip to play Cheshire at Toft before returning home to play two matches against Staffordshire at Edenside, Carlisle on Monday.
The corresponding matches last season against Cheshire were the only T20 games for Cumbria which were not lost to the weather.
Cheshire won both games at Netherfield but only on the last ball of each game, after Cumbria had lost a batsman who was well in, retired hurt in each match.
Revenge was taken winning the trophy quarter final against Cheshire later in the season.
To date half of all the T20 games that Cumbria have played have been either against Cheshire or Staffordshire. Cumbria have not had much success in the format against Cheshire (winning 2 and losing 7), but have won 3, lost 3 with 3 abandoned against Staffordshire.
Stand out performances in last year’s matches were 63 from 39 balls from Cheshire’s Matt Carter in the first game followed by 52* from 45 balls by their opener Sam Perry.
Freddie Fallows’ County debut for Cumbria was marked with 4-10 from four overs. Last year’s games against Staffordshire were lost to the weather, the matches in 2022 also at Carlisle will be remembered due to Riki Wessels hitting 65* from just 20 balls in a low scoring game.
Staffordshire won the NCCA T20 cup in 2023 with Nils Priestley scoring a remarkable 147 off 66 balls on Finals Day. He was named MVP for the format.
Sunday’s Squads are:
Cheshire Sam Perry (Alderley Edge) capt, Will Evans (Colwyn Bay), Harry Dearden (Oxton), Joe Cook (Didsbury), Alex Money (Chester Boughton Hall), Luke Young (Hyde), Chris Sanders (Alderley Edge), Josh Boyden (Lancashire CCC & Wigan), Rob Lord (Bowdon), Xander Selby (Bowdon), Pat Ashling (Bowdon), Henry Dobson (Oxton).
Cumbria: Michael Slack (Carlisle, capt), Sam Dutton (Kendal), Freddie Fallows (Kendal), Steven Croft (Lancashire CCC), Harry Singh (Lancashire CCC), Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth), Evan Williams (Kendal), Finlay Richardson (Kendal), Ed Moulton (Chorley), Nico Watt (Carlisle), Sam Sharp (Kendal).
And for Monday:
Cumbria: still to be announced
Staffordshire: James Kettleborough (cpt, Checkley), Sam Atkinson (Moddershall & Oulton), Reeve Evitts (Kenilworth Wardens), Callum Hawkins (Moddershall & Oulton), Rory Haydon (Leek), Michael Hill (Meakins), Liam Hurt (Flixton), Zen Malik (Leek), Matt Morris (Westhougton), Nils Priestley (Checkley), Anis Raza (Ashcombe Park), Jack Redman (Audley).
In addition to Steven Croft and Ed Moulton for Cumbria; Harry Dearden, Chris Sanders (Cheshire); James Kettleborough, Reeve Evitts, Tom Brett, Liam Hurt and Nils Priestley (Staffs) all have List A or First Class experience.
In addition Josh Boyden, Harry Singh and Zen Malik have each represented England in Under-19 Internationals, so there’s plenty of talent and experience on display.
Sunday’s match at Toft will be somewhat of a reunion, with eight players named by Cheshire having played Academy or 2nd XI cricket for Lancashire, whilst Cumbria have included three such players.
All matches in Group 1 were rained off last weekend, so each side have 2 points. It is therefore wide open who might progress to the new Super 12 stage on 19th May.
That stage will comprise the winners and runners up of each of the 5 groups plus the two sides with the next best record.
The winners of the Group should host a Super 12 day, subject to not placing any county under unnecessary travel requirements.
Games are scheduled to start at 11am and 2.30pm.