Minor Counties find a new ground

Posted by Tony Hutton

Last Sunday, 22nd May on the way to a few days holiday in Norfolk I discovered that a one day Minor Counties knock out match was taking place at Fakenham which was conveniently on my route. Not only was it my first visit to the Highfield Lawn ground but as far as I can tell also the first time a Minor County fixture has been played on the ground.

Highfield Lawn, Fakenham

The visitors were Cumberland, last year's Minor Counties champions and this was a crunch match to decide the winners of the group. Both teams would go through to the quarter finals but the winners would have the benefit of a home draw. So quite a bit at stake as the home side batted first on this quite large ground, with a pronounced slope downhill to the boundary at one end.

The pavilion at Fakenham

First blood fell to Cumberland with opening bowler Purser, who has played for Lancashire seconds, taking two early wickets. He had both Sam Arthurton, who I had seen score a century a couple of years ago, and former Derbyshire player Ben France caught by Miles. Norfolk were soon three down when Neil Longhurst an all rounder from the Sheffield area had Park caught by Knight for nought with the total only 31-3.

This looks like the original pavilion

Norfolk recovered with a fine stand of 98 between Denmark (not the prince of) and Taylor. Both were well past fifty when left arm spinner Toby Bulcock dismissed them both lbw. He then got both the next two batsmen run out, one with a spectacular chase and throw while bowling. Cumberland in fact used three spinners who all bowled their full allocation of ten overs.

Action man Toby Bulcock appeals for lbw

One of these was leg spinner Mark McKiernan, a Lancashire seconds player who bowled a tidy spell and finished with 2-49. Bulcock had 3-51 and Norfolk were finally dismissed for 220 with just one ball of their fifty overs remaining. This seemed about par but Cumberland seemed confident they could get the runs on a fast scoring ground.

Leg spinner Mark McKiernan in action

They did not make a very good start losing their first three batsmen for only sixteen, with two of them out for ducks. However Miles and skipper Gary Pratt righted the ship with an excellent partnership of 137. Miles was out soon after completing his fifty, but Mark McKiernan soon showed that he can bat as well as bowl with a hard hitting innings of 52 off only 39 balls, which included six fours and three sixes. Pratt was still there at the end with 74 not out as Cumberland won by six wickets with eight overs still remaining.

Cumberland will now be at home to face Devon in the quarter final at Furness cricket club, Barrow on Sunday12th June.