Michael Clayden’s century helped Wales Minor Counties to a strong start to the Unicorns Knockout Trophy, as they excelled with the bat to beat Wiltshire by 72 runs at Newport.
Clayden got his campaign off to a dream start by making 117 after captain Darren Thomas had chosen to bat first, and shared 121 for the second wicket with Gareth Ansell, who made 82.
Clayden helped his side reach 352 as they were bowled out in the allotted 50 overs, and the Wales Minor Counties bowlers backed up the excellent batting effort to dismiss last year’s semi-finalists for 280.
Kadeer Ali’s unbeaten 106 guided Staffordshire to a seven-wicket win over Buckinghamshire.
Greg Willott earlier took 4-34, but Michael Payne’s knock of 96 held the innings together to help post 284 at High Wycombe, which Kadeer and his men knocked off with more than four overs to go to get off to a winning start.
Cornwall edged to a 12-run win over Dorset, despite only managing to post 117 after choosing to bat first at Bournemouth.
Tom Hicks took 6-30 for Dorset, but he still ended up on the losing side as Bradley Wadlan and Christian Purchase took four wickets apiece to run through the line-up and leave them on 105 as the final wicket fell in just the 29th over.
Cheshire, who also reached the semis in 2014, had a disappointing day as they were bowled out for just 154 against Lincolnshire at Grantham.
Paul Cook made 88 to help Lincolnshire post 247, before David Lucas and Alex Osmond shared seven wickets between them to secure a 93-run victory.
Cumberland also won comfortably at Shrewsbury, posting 269 before skittling Shropshire for just 137 to take a 132-run winning margin.
Benjamin Frazer shone for Hertfordshire as they successfully chased down the 247 set by Norfolk at Horsford.
Frazer took 3-53 before hitting a 34-ball unbeaten 53 to see his side over the line, sharing an unbroken partnership of 90 with Daniel Blacktopp, who made 40 not out.
An excellent bowling effort from Herefordshire earned them a 93-run victory over Berkshire, after the visitors were bowled out for 129 at Colwall.
The hosts posted 222 but four-wicket hauls from David Ball and Mohammed Pardesi ensured they got their campaign off to a winning start.