CONFIDENT Dorset captain Luke Webb backed his side’s chances of beating Berkshire in their NCCA Trophy semi-final tomorrow (11am).

Webb’s men have enjoyed an excellent white-ball season in 2022, also reaching the semi-finals of the NCCA T20 competition.

And they warmed up for their second semi-final of the summer by giving Hampshire a strong test last weekend before falling to a 62-run loss in their NCCA Showcase match at Wimborne.

That encounter has given Webb cause for optimism for the clash at Finchampstead, despite Berkshire’s reputation as one of the strongest National Counties teams.

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He told Echosport: “To put ourselves in another semi-final like we did in the Twenty20 is fantastic for Dorset.

“I guess if we keep putting ourselves in these positions, eventually the trophy will come.

“Hopefully we can win and get one step closer but I’m really happy with the group to get there again.

“I really feel we’ve got a great opportunity to reach the final.”

He added: “Berkshire are obviously a very good side but I’m really confident that we can beat them.

“I think we’ve got the team to do it. We played really well against Hampshire last Sunday and they’re a top-quality outfit.

“I’m pretty confident if we put in the same performance we did against Hampshire that we’ll be able to beat Berkshire.”

With the Royal London One-Day Cup and The Hundred currently taking place, both counties are missing some of their white-ball professionals.

However, Dorset show just two changes to the side that faced Hampshire as seamer Ben Ladd-Gibbon and all-rounder Jacob Gordon come in at the expense of Connor Smith and Eddie Jack.

Webb said: “Eddie is carefully managed as a young seam bowler (by Hampshire) and as such that slightly adjusts the balance of our team, so Connor’s unlucky to miss out.

“We needed to bring in another batter and Jacob’s back from injury so it’s good to have him and Ben’s obviously a top-quality bowler to come in. I’m pretty happy with the team.”

Dorset: Soames, Webb, Scott, Young, Gordon, A Eckland, J Eckland, Woodruff, Pack, Ladd-Gibbon, Breckon.