Norfolk v Bedfordshire: Minor Counties Championship – Bedfordshire’s Second Innings Recap
Bedfordshire required 280 runs for victory against Norfolk in a match of the Minor Counties Championship at the Manor Park, Horsford in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 on Tuesday, August 2, 2011.
The team was in a very solid position until the Norfolk’s second innings, as they had a first innings lead of 81 runs.
However, the home team’s opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Carl-John-Rogers-c49229 changed the complexion of the match with a superb century. The stylish opener clobbered 172 runs and was the only batsman to reach three figures in the entire match.
The pitch was very good for batting, which would have given some confidence to the visitors. However, there was still some seam movement off the wicket, which made the game interesting.
Bedfordshire fought really hard and came too close to winning the match. The chase was led by the team’s first-drop http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-David-Stubbings-c91064, who top scored the innings with 95 runs.
However, the visitors were all out for 278 runs, losing the match by just one run in the end. They required three runs for victory with the same number of wickets in hand, but lost their final three for just one run.
Bedfordshire would have hoped for a solid start in order to chase down the required target. The team’s openers failed to make an impression though, getting out early.
James Kettleborough was the first man to be dismissed in the innings after failing to open his account. He was followed by George Thurstance, who managed just 13 runs in his short stay at the crease.
Despite losing both openers, the visitors bounced back in the match quite well. Stubbings and Oliver Swann batted brilliantly, collecting a century stand for the third wicket partnership.
The pair put together 129 runs, guiding the team into a very strong position. Stubbings fell five runs short of what would have been a spectacular century. He scored 95 runs with the help of 15 boundaries.
The visitors’ skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Oliver-James-Clayson-c80188 failed to get going, as he was dismissed after adding just four runs to the total. He was followed by Swann, who ended up with 84 runs, smashing eight fours.
A couple of more quick wickets fell and the pressure was shifted right back onto the Bedfordshire team.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Christopher-Alroy-Martin-c50714 Weightman and Christopher Esh played well, collecting 41 and 25 runs in their respective outings. The latter was the eighth wicket to fall in the innings and was followed by Colin Griggs, who was run-out for a duck.
The pressure was on Weightman, who was well set, but failed to guide his side to victory. He was the last man to be dismissed in the Bedfordshire innings.
Norfolk’s Chris Brown bowled extremely well under pressure, picking up four wickets in the innings.
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