The last round of Minor Counties championship games are already upon us and it was a delight to spend two days at Sedbergh School for the game between Cumberland and Norfolk. Nothing at stake for these two teams but a very competitive and compelling game played out in splendid weather which is not always the case at this charming venue.
Sedbergh School ground looking towards the Howgill Fells
The actual championship titles were being played for elsewhere with Berkshire winning the western division and a very tight contest between Lincolnshire and Northumberland in the eastern division saw them both achieve victories and finishing the season level on points. Lincolnshire, with a splendid victory over Staffordshire, were declared champions by reason of a superior run rate. So the four day final will be played at Wormsley on the 28th August between Lincolnshire and Berkshire.
The knock out final, an all midlands affair, is also being played at the same venue on Wednesday 24th August between Herefordshire and Staffordshire.
However, back to Sedbergh and, despite the absence of several regulars due to the counter attraction (?) of the Roses match at Old Trafford, Norfolk won the toss and decided to bat in far more salubrious surroundings. It was slow going for much of the day with most of the Norfolk batsmen getting in, but no one able to play a big innings.
The middle order of Park (36), Bridgestock (42) and Watson (46) steadied the ship
after the first four wickets went down for 81. Cumberland were handicapped by a shoulder injury to star bowler Toby Bulcock who was back after a three match suspension imposed by the North Yorkshire and South Durham League, where he plies his trade with Richmondshire. Bulcock only managed eight overs and it was left to leg spinner McKiernan to carry the bowling burden which he did successfully bowling 31.5 overs and taking 5-81.
Sedbergh school pavilion
Norfolk were finally all out for a modest 234 with just one ball of the 90 overs left before the compulsory end of the innings. Surely not enough was the general feeling amongst the cognoscenti. After all Cumberland are the current champions and have batsmen a plenty. Norfolk had other ideas and in no time Cumberland were 7-2 with both openers Hale and skipper Gary Pratt making the long climb up the pavilion steps.The two youngsters Michael Slack and Sam Dutton, son of Simon the former Cumberland skipper and wicketkeeper, held things together before the close on day one.
The following morning, with the sun shining yet again, these two carried on the good work with a partnership of 134 before Slack was out for 36 made in two and a half hours. It was a good grafting innings to support Dutton, who gained in confidence throughout the morning and reached an excellent first century at this level, which contained seventeen fours. Gilbert Johnson, long serving former secretary, was able to inform the assembled throng that this was not the first case of a father and son having scored centuries for the county. This record was held by no less than David (Bumble) Lloyd and his son Graham, now of course a first class umpire.
Cumberland in the runs in the first innings
When Dutton was finally out for 104, bowled by the persistent Spelman, wickets fell rapidly and Cumberland descended from164-3 to 173-6 with the speedy departures of both Longhurst and McKiernan. Another pair came to the rescue as wicketkeeper Gary Knight from Lytham and Glen Weightman from Keswick put on another century partnership. Knight made 48 and Weightman a rapid 65 with four fours and two sixes.
Cumberland finally all out for 326 again with just one ball of their ninety overs remaining. Spelman toiled away at the church end all day and was rewarded with figures of 6-98 off 28 overs.
So a useful first innings lead of 92 for the home side, but the Norfolk openers J.T. Taylor and prolific scorer Sam Arthurton soon narrowed the gap towards the end of the second day. This was when we left the scene to travel elsewhere and we were surprised to learn the following day that Norfolk had made 326 in their second innings with Taylor top scoring on 103. This left Cumberland with apparently plenty of time to score 239 to win.
Well known music hall act on the back row - David Thorpe and 'The three Grahams'
However it was not to be and Norfolk, thanks to their spinners who took four wickets each, bowled them out for 207 to win by 32 runs. Veteran captain Chris Brown, a Lancastrian of course, took 4-58 and Watson 4-60. So a sad end to their season for last year's champions but a nice, fluctuating game with which to finish.
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