Cheshire welcome back Whittaker

Jason Whittaker returns to the Cheshire side at the expense of all-rounder Chris Finnegan

Cheshire have made one change to their side for the MCCA Championship clash with Herefordshire.

Jason Whittaker returns to the team in place of fellow all-rounder Chris Finnegan as Cheshire look to increase their lead at the top of the Western Division with victory at Nantwich CC from July 5-7.

Top of the Western Division by three points after a fine win in Berkshire last week, it is little surprise that Cheshire skipper Andy Hall is eyeing back-to-back victories.

“Beating Berkshire was a great result for us, but we know we can't rest on that win. We've got to push on and try and pull away at the top of the division,” said Hall.

“Herefordshire are a good side and we'll have to play well to beat them, but we've confident because we've come off the back of a good team performance against Berkshire.

“We've had a draw and a win so far this season and I've said before that you can't really afford any defeats, so will we have to be on our game against Herefordshire.

“They will want to beat us, but if we perform to our ability we'll fancy our chances of getting a win. It should be a good match."

Regular opening batsman Danny Leech has failed to regain his place after missing the last two matches due to work commitments.

That left the door open for fellow Oulton Park all-rounder Rick Moore, who scored two half-centuries and claimed four wickets against Berkshire.

There is also a place for Chris Tipper, who impressed on his county debut with a fine innings of 81 in that Berkshire victory, achieved with only three balls to spare.

Meanwhile, Herefordshire have made a clutch of changes to their side which lost to Cornwall in their last Western Division outing.

Batsman David Exall keeps his place after scoring 144 runs without being dismissed in that match, but Henry Langford is replaced by Richard Hall.

Former Gloucestershire all-rounder Will Rudge, who is unavailable, has been replaced by debutant James Shackleton, while Faisal Shahid returns after injury.

Cheshire: Chris Tipper (Hyde), 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), Rick Moore (Oulton Park).
Herefordshire: Hardshad Patel (Himley), Ben Stebbings (Brockhampton), Dan Bassett (Himley), Chris Boroughs (Brockhampton, captain), Richard Hall (Dorridge), David Exall (Bridgenorth), Faisal Shahid (Smethwick), Chris Powell (Brockhampton), Charlie Griffiths (Colwall), James Shackleton (Frocester),m Stuart Wedge (Himley). 12th man: Tom Austwick (Brockhampton).