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| > Cumberland CCC v Staffordshire CCC Match Report |
After the loss of 21 wickets on the opening day, the likelihood of Staffordshire’s game against Cumberland at Barrow continuing until after tea on the third and final day looked remote. However this was to prove to be the case until, after three days enthralling cricket, Staffordshire came out on top by 42 runs to record a first championship success and maintain their unbeaten record this season.
Amongst the many notable highlights of the game was a new Staffordshire tenth wicket partnership of 118 between the evergreen Kim Barnett and last man Will Purser, to help Staffs recover from a precarious 169 for nine in their second innings, an overall lead of just 176, which enabled Staffs to set the home side a challenging target of 295 to win. Barnett remained unbeaten after 213 minutes at the crease on 63, while Purser struck eleven boundaries and one six in his county best score of 69.
When Cumberland had limped to 125 for seven at lunch on the final day the only thing that looked likely to save them were the threatening rain clouds. Two short rain breaks held up Staffordshire’s victory push and when the eighth wicket fell on 147, the result looked a formality. Former Durham player Gary Pratt refused to accept the inevitable and after having been given a life on 13, the home skipper found an able ally in Dan Wearing. The number ten batsman helped Pratt reach three figures, and add 72 for the ninth wicket to frustrate the Staffs attack and restore Cumberland hopes of pulling off an amazing run chase from their earlier precarious position.
The ninth wicket fell on 219, leaving Cumberland still needing a further 76 and this target was further reduced as Pratt farmed the strike in a tenth wicket stand of 33 before Pratt’s brave effort was halted. Staffs paceman Dave Edwards, playing his first game of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury, summoned up one last effort and induced a false shot from Pratt as his flashing cut shot found the safe hands of Kim Barnett at deep backward point.
The game came to a conclusion with ninety minutes remaining much to the relief of Staffs captain Paul Goodwin who concluded, “The win is brilliant for us. We needed to win to keep alive any hopes we might have in the championship. If you keep winning it is good for the confidence. We can move onto the next game and believe we can win that one.”
Goodwin was full of praise of the contribution of all his players adding, “The fighting spirit in the team is amazing. There is a refusal to believe we are out of it. In the first innings we probably didn’t bat as well as we should have but the bowlers got us back in it. That spirit is an integral part of the way we play. Kim (Barnett) typified that spirit with his second innings knock and along with Will (Purser) got us enough runs to give us the chance to win the game.”
Longton bowler Dave Edwards finished with match figures of seven for 102 and Greg Willott seven for 112. Willott did the early damage on the final morning taking the first three wickets. Edwards also had success in the morning session while there were two championship wickets for 17 year-old Alex Hughes, his first ever for the county. Liam Hughes claimed the crucial ninth wicket before Edwards ended Pratt’s heroics.
Wickets had fallen steadily on the opening day as Staffs were bowled out for 129 after electing to bat first. Greg Willott top scored with an unbeaten 28 with Alex Hughes contributing 22 on his second appearance for the county.
Staffordshire’s three man pace attack hit back well to ensure a narrow seven run first innings advantage as the home side were dismissed for 122, as Willott and Edwards both picked up four wickets and Purser the other two.
The conditions on the first day were certainly in favour of bowling with the wicket offering assistance, as did the overhead conditions which encouraged swing. Both attacks used the conditions well and this combined with a number of injudicious shots was reflected in the fall of so many wickets on the opening day.
Having come to the wicket as night watchman and help Peter Wilshaw survive the final eleven balls of the day after the loss of Karl Quiney first ball, Russ Ballard helped to compile a 73 run partnership to prevent Cumberland from an early breakthrough on the second day. Ballard contributed 19 to the partnership, following which Wilshaw went on to reach 59 before becoming the fourth wicket to fall on 104. The steady stream of wickets continued until the Barnett/Purser partnership which was the prelude to the final day’s drama.
The result which earned Staffordshire 20 points to Cumberland’s 4, ensures Staffs go into their next match, the Minor Counties Knock-Out Trophy Final against Norfolk at Durham on Wednesday 22nd July in good spirits.
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