Berkshire beat Lincolnshire to complete double triumph

Berkshire have completed a rare Minor Counties double, claiming their second Final victory in consecutive years over Lincolnshire to retain the four-day Championship, and add it to the one-day Trophy title they won against the same opposition last week.

In winning their sixth Championship title, James Morris’s team became the first since Devon in 1994 to do the double – and were also the first to retain the Championship since Devon won it four times running from 1994-97.

They were made to dig deep by Lincolnshire, for the second year running, as they were set a victory target of 287 after the former Derbyshire batsman Matt Lineker had grafted to 148.

But Jack Davies, a 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman who is on the Middlesex Academy, held his nerve as Berkshire slipped to 45 for two and then 135 for four, against a Lincolnshire attack including the Carter brothers Andy and Matt – who had shared seven wickets in the first innings.

Davies found match-winning support from Andy Rishton, who struck an unbeaten 76 from 77 balls with eight fours and three sixes in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 156 – Davies ending unbeaten on 127 from 246 balls.

Chris Peploe, the former Middlesex spinner who has been a mainstay of Berkshire’s recent success, again played a key role with five for 71 as Lincolnshire were dismissed for 182 in their first innings, and six for 113 in the second.

Euan Woods, a Surrey youngster who toured India with England Under-19s last winter and was man of the match in last year’s Championship win against Lincs, top-scored with 97 out of a modest Berkshire reply of 215.