COUNTIES CRICKET Western One title down to the wire

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 August 2024 10:00

Published on Tuesday, 13 August 2024 09:40

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

The battle for the Western Division One title will go down to the wire after a day of cat-and-mouse championship cricket between leaders Berkshire and Oxfordshire at the Falkland club in Newbury.

Berkshire looked like enjoying a healthy first innings lead when they reduced Oxfordshire to 118 for seven but Tristan Rossouw led a bold fightback with 95 not out – his maiden half-century in the competition – with excellent support from Prav Chahal (36) and Tommy Rex (34 not out).

Oxfordshire declared on 278 for eight with one ball of their allocation of 90 overs unused which denied Berkshire maximum bowling points.

Berkshire increased their first innings lead of 39 to 168 by the close with Euan Woods making an unbeaten half-century in their 129 for three.

Devon, last season’s Western Division champions and national runners-up, shaded the second day honours against Cheshire at Sidmouth thanks to a fifth wicket partnership of 261 between Ben Beaumont and Calum Haggett.

Beaumont’s 115 was his maiden century and Haggett’s 115 his competition best, but Devon surrendered some of their advantage by losing their last six wickets for 25 with slow left-armer Dan Wilson taking five wickets in just his second Championship appearance.

Cheshire then turned a first innings deficit of 111 into a lead of 76 with seven wickets intact thanks to half-centuries from Sam Perry and Luke McCoy and Rob Sehmi’s 40 not out.

Shropshire took control of their Western Division Two match against Wales NC at Bridgnorth thanks to solid batting down the order in their second innings.

Seamers Ollie Currill and Sam Ellis shared six wickets to help dismiss Wales for 179 in their first innings which gave Shropshire a narrow, but important, lead of 27.

Shropshire produced a better team performance in their second innings with Andre Bradford and Currill making half-centuries and Tom Fell (37), captain Charlie Home (31) and wicketkeeper Ben Lees (36 not out) all contributing to a total of 271 for eight.

Herefordshire also closed in on victory against Dorset at Wimborne where their captain Matt Pardoe converted his overnight century into a career-best 184.

Pardoe shared a third wicket partnership of 144 with Worcestershire staff man Olly Cox (76) which took Herefordshire to an imposing 460 for eight and an imposing lead of 304.

Dorset batted better second time around, led by half-centuries from captain Luke Webb and Finn Gordon, but both perished to Pardoe’s slow left-armers with Webb hitting his wicket as he played back.

Greg Willows ended the day unbeaten on 42 but Dorset were still 87 adrift on 217 for five.

 

Durant Cricket National Counties Championship

Second day of three

Eastern Division One

Flitwick: Buckinghamshire 468-7 (Alexei Kervezee 180, Cameron Hemp 105, Ed Bragg 55) & 119-8 (Jack Fuller 4-48), Bedfordshire 379 (George Thurstance 108, Oli Soames 70, Conner Haddow 6-142).

 Stafford: Suffolk 277 (George Rhodes 70, Josh Cantrell 51, Tom Brett 4-64) & 180-2 (Darren Ironside 56 not out), Staffordshire 349-6 dec (Michael Hill 116 not out, Reeve Evitts 81, Tom Moulton 52).

Western Division One

Falkland CC: Berkshire 317-7 (Charlie Dunnett 118 not out, Dan O’Driscoll 96) & 129-3 (Euan Woods 50 not out), Oxfordshire 278-8 dec (Tristan Rossouw 95 not out, Luke Beaven 4-80).

Sidmouth: Cheshire 287 (Harry Dearden 55) & 187-3 (Sam Perry 56 not out, Luke McCoy 52), Devon 398 (Ben Beaumont 154, Calum Haggett 115, Sam Elstone 67, Dan Wilson 5-92).

Eastern Division Two

Sawston: Cambridgeshire 475-6 (Wayne White 199, Will Routledge 90, Callum Guest 82) & 186-3 dec (Ben Claydon 56 not out, Dan Andrew 52 not out), Northumberland 128 (Wayne White 4-26, James Sykes 4-45) & 97-3 (Ali Appleby 58 not out).

Horsford: Cumbria 411-8 (Will Fraine 235, Freddie Fallows 70, Ed Moulton 57 not out, Brett Stolworthy 5-68) & 103 (Joe Everett 5-34), Norfolk 353 (Ben Wilcox 106, Ethan Metcalf 80, Sam Arthurton 65, Nico Watt 6-107, Freddie Fallows 4-89).

Western Division Two

Wimborne: Dorset 156 (James Rudge 4-32) & 217-5 (Luke Webb 74, Finn Gordon 52), Herefordshire 460-8 (Matt Pardoe 184, Taylor Cornall 101, Olly Cox 76).

Bridgnorth: Shropshire 206 (Tom Fell 117, Tim Moses 4-48) & 271-8 (Andre Bradford 58, Ollie Currill 57), Wales NC 179 (Steffan Roberts 54).

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