Minor Counties Knock Out Final

Posted by Tony Hutton

Lincolnshire v Shropshire at Emirates Internation Cricket Ground, Durham
(known to you and me as Riverside, Chester-le-Street)

A dry, fine journey up the A1, but as soon as we turn off for Chester-le-street there are large puddles at the roadside. Surely not a repetition of last season's final when rain prevented play until after lunch and took the game into a second day.

However the ground was dry and play started on time with Lincolnshire, possibly the favourites, batting first. They certainly had more big name players and great things were expected of the two openers Dobson and Birch, both with first class experience.
The former Derbyshire man Birch had played some big hitting innings in the earlier rounds, but today was not his day and his early dismissal perhaps set the tone for Lincolnshire.

Dobson and Dowman, both capable of playing big innings, were dismissed for thirties and it was left to captain Cook to accelerate things with a fine 50. Former Yorkshire and Derbyshire spinner, Andy Gray, put a brake on proceedings with an accurate spell of 10-1-29-1 and then it was left to wicketkeeper Burford and newcomer Liam Andrews to put on a fine unbroken partnership of 77. Andrews ending on 52 not out and Burford 30 not out to give Lincoln a competitive toal of 249-6 in their fifty overs.

Shropshire started very positively and had 58 on the board in only nine overs before the first wicket fell. Lincolnshire's opening bowlers sprayed the ball about and Carter, with recent county experience with both Notts and Essex, failed to make a breakthrough. Dowman too was expensive and it was left to the two spinners Dobson and Andrews to slow thing down.

Shropshire's fourth wicket pair of Foster and Leach gradually took complete control of proceedings, with captain Foster leading from the front and never in trouble.
Leach made an excellent 67 not out, but Foster fittingly won the game with a huge six over mid wicket to take him to 95 not out. Shropshire winning by seven wickets with five overs to spare.

Finally my annual gripe about this game which I feel strongly should still be played at Lord's. Riverside is all very well, but not only a long way to travel, but the playing area is so vast and the wicket on the far side of the square means that the teams in the players area and the committees and guests in the boxes are a very long way from the action. Not an ideal situation for teams who are used to playing on smaller, more intimate, country grounds.

Nevertheless an excellent day out, all the better for being with Gilbert Johnston, secretary of Cumberland, and his wife Vera. Gilbert is very positive about his recent illness and was greeted by all the great and the good of Minor Counties cricket with real affection.