Cricket tour of Middle England - Part 4

Posted by Tony Hutton

Bank Holiday Monday 25th May. Still based in Bedford and an easy early morning drive to Luton where Bedfordshire were playing Norfolk on the second day of their three day Minor Counties match. I had visited Wardown Park on a couple of previous occasions for Minor Counties games, but recall Yorkshire had played here against Northamptonshire in the County Championship. The tree lined ground on the edge of a pleasant public park has a large playing area and usually produces plenty of runs. 

Wardown Park, Luton

This was the case yesterday when the home side totted up 341-7 in their allotted first innings of 90 overs. Top scorer was Luke Thomas, a left-handed opening bat, who is a new name to me, but has played club cricket for two Derbyshire sides Chesterfield and Swarkestone. He made an impressive 171 in four hours, but hit only 14 fours. New Bedfordshire captain James Middlebrook, after his release by Northants, made only four but the rest of his batsmen supported Thomas well.

Wardown Park scoreboard

The second day's action saw a steady start by Norfolk and openers Spelman and Sam Arthurton, who I had seen score a century against Lincolnshire a couple of years ago, put on 84 before Spelman was out for 44. Number three Ben France, who has played for Derbyshire, was given out lbw to Middlebrook for 0 and like so many batsmen did not like the decision.  Arthurton played carefully for three hours before he was out for a rather slow 66. None of the other batsmen could impose themselves against slow left armer Andy Reynoldson who took five wickets for 60. Middlebrook bowled 15 tidy overs and took 1-31.

Bedfordshire put the pressure on

So it was rather a story of accurate bowling and attritional batting until some lusty blows from the tail finally took the Norfolk total to 259 all out just before the end of their 90 overs. A first innings lead of 82 meant Bedford needed quick runs with a view to a declaration sometime on the final day. J.M. Kettleborough, who also plays for Northants, but is no relation to the Test Match umpire, opened with Thomas and by close of play had put on another 53 runs.

On the following day, after I had departed elsewhere, Thomas made yet another century, this time 147 not out, aided by his captain James Middlebrook with a quickfire 70. So Bedford were able to declare on 262-2, thus giving Norfolk a daunting target of 365 to win. This time Norfolk scored somewhat quicker at about four an over, with Arthurton, who has had county trials, making a fine 121. They were never really likely to challenge the target and settled for a draw on 253-5. So ended the very first three day Minor Counties fixture of the season, played in splendid isolation.

The first full programme of Minor Counties three day games takes place on 7-9 June, the only one in the north of England being the local derby between Northumberland and Cumberland at South Northumberland CC, Gosforth, Newcastle.