BERKSHIRE will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run when they take on Cheshire at Finchampstead in their three-day championship game starting on Sunday (11am).

The defending national champions won all six of their Western Division fixtures last year and are two out of two so far this season.

Skipper James Morris commented: "Obviously we are pleased to be on top of the table, but we are only just coming to the half-way point of the championship, so there is still a long way to go.

"Our aim is to reach the final again and retain the title, but for now we are not looking beyond our next game."

Berkshire will be looking to continue their outstanding home record against a Cheshire side who are not the best of teams on the road, having managed to win just one of their last 10 Championship away games, which was against Wiltshire at Devizes in 2017, losing six of those matches.

Last week they slumped to a 174-run defeat to Dorset at Bournemouth after being bowled out in the second innings for 254.

Berkshire have beaten Cheshire in each of their last three meetings since 2015.

Henley's Richard Morris is set to miss the game due to work commitments, while spinner Ali Raja is still recovering from his hand injury,

Head coach Tom Lambert and skipper James Morris could face a difficult task in deciding who will be at the top of the batting order.

Archie Carter and Michael Williams, both 18, put on 97 for the first wicket in the second innings against Wales with Carter going to score 126, or bring back Savin Perera and Jack Davies, who opened the innings in the win over Herefordshire with Perera making a century.

Reflecting on the 220-run victory over Wales Minor Counties, Morris said: "Archie has threatened to get a big score for us on several occasions. He played beautifully and sensibly and knew where he could get his runs. It has taken him probably more time than he would like, but he's now got his maiden century, hopefully he will go on to get more.

"Mikey didn't get any runs in the first innings and that added the pressure when he went out to bat again, so to get up and running in the second innings was important for him. He batted beautifully and would have been frustrated not to have kicked on and got an even bigger score.

"It would be great to have those two at the top of the order again. Having two talented kids shows the good way Berkshire cricket is heading."