Dias to make competitive debut

July 16, 2021

MAX Dias will make his competitive debut for Suffolk in Sunday’s National Cricket Counties Association Trophy Quarter-Final away to Cumbria.

The 19-year-old bowler, who plays for Bury St Edmunds in the East Anglian Premier League, made his bow in the 50-over friendly versus Cambridgeshire last season, scoring a single the last ball to secure a thrilling one-wicket win.

The inclusion of Dias, at the expense of Matt Wareing, is one of two changes to the Suffolk side from that which defeated Hertfordshire at Sudbury CC to secure Suffolk’s place in the last eight of the competition.

Professional Joe Gatting returns to the side after missing both that match and the crushing 329-run victory over Cambridgeshire in the NCCA Championship at Bury St Edmunds earlier this week.

He effectively replaces Essex 2nd XI batsman Josh Rymell, who scored a superb 139 in the second innings on his three-day debut at the Victory Ground.

Suffolk head coach Andy Northcote said: “With Essex not having a lot to play for, as they are unable to reach the quarter-finals of the T20 Vitality Blast, Josh comes in to contention for a start in either of their games on Friday or Sunday.

“This automatically, and rightly, rules him out for our game this Sunday. Josh has got himself in and out a few times for us this far and it was so good to watch him relax at the crease on Monday and grow in confidence as he worked his way towards his first hundred for Suffolk.

“He has an abundance of talent and it is just super exciting to think he is a local lad making his way in the professional game. Let’s hope he can play regularly for us and it plays a positive part in his budding professional career.

“Matt Allen was in the original squad and due to start but unfortunately, for personal reasons, he has had to pull out. He had a fantastic debut in the friendly against Essex 2nd XI and we hoped he would have had a similar impact on Sunday but alas, it was not to be. He’ll be back in the group soon no doubt, so it’s more a case of when, not if.

“Hence Max Dias comes into the side and will play a part as one of five seamers. Unfortunately, Darren Ironside misses out but is travelling.”

Suffolk’s players face an arduous trip north after playing for their club sides on Saturday, but Northcote is looking forward to the challenge.

“This will be as challenging a fixture as ever before in my reign but we can’t wait. We’ll arrive around 2.30am on Sunday but come 11 o’clock, we’ll be fully focussed on the job at hand.

“Once again, we’ve loaded ourselves with batters and seamers that are good at bowling wicket-to-wicket, not to mention the spin of Jack Beaumont and Josh Cantrell.

“The information we’ve gained on the ground and opposition sounds like it will be a low-scoring, seam-friendly, thrilling encounter,” he added.

Suffolk: Ben Claydon, Jack Beaumont (capt), Ben Parker, Joe Gatting, Andy Northcote, Ben Shepperson, Darren Batch, Josh Cantrell, Tom Rash, Adam Mansfield (wkt), Max Dias. 12th man: Darren Ironside.

 

Photograph caption

Max Dias, who will make his competitive debut for Suffolk on Sunday. Photograph: NICK GARNHAM

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