CUMBERLAND will complete their group matches in the Minor Counties Trophy on Sunday.

They entertain Cheshire at Netherfield still looking for their first win of the season – the only team in Group One without a point after suffering three defeats.

So the Cumbrians will be looking to salvage some pride from a disappointing campaign while opponent Cheshire are looking for the win which will gurantee them progress in the competition.

Sunday’s team is: James Lowe, Jonathan Miles (pictured), Ikram Ullah (w/keeper), Gary Pratt (Captain),
Chris Batchelor, Darren Hickey, James Beaumont, Graham Dawson, Chris Miller, Dan Conway and Adam Cowperthwaite.

The match gets underway at 11am an with glorious weather forecast a full day’s play is expected.
Cheshire have been boosted by the welcome return of promising Lancashire Academy youngster Chris Tipper.

He starred for Cheshire last season with the bat and averaged an impressive 70.33 in the Championship campaign.

Tipper - who scored 422 runs last season for Cheshire in just six innings - is expected to make his debut for the county in the 50-over one-day Trophy competition with the county requiring a victory to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Tipper, 19, has been named in a strong 12-man Cheshire squad with opening batsman Warren Goodwin, from Chester Boughton Hall, unavailable because of work commitments.

Hyde all-rounder Daniel Berry is absent with a hand injury, while Alderley Edge all-rounder Jason Whittaker is unavailable for selection.

But Neston bowler James Hawley is also included in the squad, with the final XI set to be decided on the day of the match.

Cheshire beat Cumberland by 18 runs in their opening Trophy match last season when the two counties clashed at Netherfield.

"We played well in that match, we've got good memories of the way we performed when we last played Cumberland," reflected Cheshire skipper Andy Hall.

"It's a big boost for us to have Chris available, he's such a good young player. He proved last season how much of an exciting talent he is.

"He scored a lot of runs for us in the Championship - and at a really good rate as well. Hopefully we can get a few for us on Sunday, it's a game we have to win."

Cheshire have won two and lost one of their three group matches thus far, which has left Hall's side needing one more victory for a guaranteed quarter-final berth.

The winner of Staffordshire against Shropshire will be the other county who qualifies for the quarter-finals.

Cheshire 12-man squad: Chris Tipper (Northern), Rick Moore (Oulton Park), Andy Hall (Bramhall) – captain, Ben Spendlove (Oulton Park), Louis Bentley (Oulton Park), Nathan Dumelow (Oulton Park) - vice captain, James Duffy (Hyde) – wicketkeeper, Jonny Fawcett (Didsbury), Richard Logan (Chichester), Adam Syddall (Bowdon), Matt Dawson (Bramhall) – wicketkeeper; James Hawley (Neston).

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