Norfolk v Bedfordshire: Minor Counties Championship – Bedfordshire’s First Innings Recap
Norfolk were all out for 152 in their first innings against Bedfordshire on day-one of the three-day game of the Minor Counties Championship at the Manor Park, Horsford in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 on Sunday, July 31, 2011.
The Bedfordshire bowlers had done a fabulous job, restricting the opposition to a lesser total after they had opted to bat first. However, this was just the half job done, as the visitors had to bat well in order to take a solid first innings lead in the
match.
The pitch still had some assistance for the bowlers, but it had eased out to a great extent compared to the first couple of sessions of play on day-one. This allowed the visitors to take a useful lead.
Bedfordshire ended up with 233 runs in their first innings. There was no player in the team to take his score past fifty, but a few solid contributions helped the side gain an overall lead of 81 runs in the first outing.
The start for the visitors was not an ideal one, as the team lost a few wickets in quick time. Opening batsman George Thurstance was the first man to be dismissed after adding 18 runs to the total.
The team’s first-drop batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-David-Stubbings-c91064 failed to open his account and got out for a first ball duck, leaving his side 27/2.
Oliver Swann was the net man to be dismissed after managing just three runs in his short stay at the wicket. He was followed by the team’s skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Oliver-James-Clayson-c80188, who got out for six.
Bedfordshire were in a spot of bother, losing four wickets for just 65 runs on the board. However, James Kettleborough and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Christopher-Alroy-Martin-c50714 Weightman collected 30 runs for the fifth wicket, guiding their team closer to 100.
Kettleborough played really well, but failed to make most of the start he got to his innings. He fell just eight runs short of a half-century. The stylish opener struck eight fours in his outing.
Wicketkeeper batsman D Hartley provided solid support for Weightman and the pair put together 59 runs for the sixth wicket stand. The latter got out after contributing 46 runs to the total. He played solid cricket, smashing three fours and one towering six
in his impressive knock.
Just three runs later, Hartley was also sent back to the pavilion after adding 27 runs to the total with the help of four boundaries.
Lower-order player Christopher Esh scored a crucial 37 runs towards the end of the innings, stretching the lead to 81 in the end.
Just like the first innings, the batsmen struggled to cope up with the new ball. Norfolk’s attack bowlers Oli Stone and Michael Warnes picked up 3 and 4 wickets respectively in the innings.
Tags: