Minor Counties Championship Round Up

Skipper Simon Dutton swept reigning champions Cumberland to a four-wicket win over Hertfordshire in their Eastern Division curtain-raiser at Barrow. Dutton weighed in with a brilliant 106 not out off only 91 balls - including 16 fours and a six - as Cumberland chased 197 to win with an over to spare. Marcus Sharp (four for 37) and David Pennett (four for 49) had earlier helped dismiss Hertfordshire for 212 in their second innings.

Lincolnshire's curtain-raiser with Staffordshire was condemned to a watery fate at Bourne. The rain that prevented a ball being bowled on Sunday returned with a vengeance to wash out the second day with Staffordshire on 157 for seven off 64.2 overs. Staffordshire lost openers Jamie Jervis and Steve Dean with only seven scored, but a third-wicket stand of 88 between Laurie Potter (51) and Graeme Archer (49) kept Lincolnshire at arm's length.

In the Western Division, Shropshire presented in-form seamer Adam Shimmons with his county cap after wrapping up a seven-wicket verdict over Oxfordshire. Shimmons, making his 23rd championship appearance, finished with match figures of 11 for 103 as Shropshire opened their programme on a winning note. A half-century from Jamie Ralph helped Shropshire home to a 20-point triumph in a game that produced scores of 94, 93, 99 and 101 for three.

Herefordshire newboy John Shaw took the first hat-trick of the championship season - but still finished on the losing side against Dorset at Colwall. Shaw finished off the Dorset second innings with three wickets in three balls to end with six for 44 off 19.2 overs. But Dorset then knocked off 223 to win by eight wickets with four overs to spare, with opener Matt Swarbrick following his first innings 61 with a matchwinning 114.

A debut innings of 76 from Glamorgan youngster Mark Wallace failed to yield victory for Wales against Berkshire at Hungerford. Wales, chasing 266, closed well adrift on 215 for eight after Wallace and Lyndon Jones (31) had raised their hopes in taking them to 178 for three. Julian Wood, the former Hampshire left-hander, enjoyed a profitable start to the season for Berkshire with innings of 70 not out and 90.

Minor Counties Championship
Hungerford: Berks 204-5 & 236-5 (JR Wood 90) Wales 175-2 & 215-8 (MA Wallace 76, NA Fusedale 4-50) Drawn. Berks 3 Wales 4
Shrewsbury: Oxfordshire 94 & 99 (AM Shimmons 6-42) Shropshire 93 & 101-3 (JT Ralph 55) Shrops (20) beat Oxon (4) by 7 wickets
Bourne: Staffs 157-7 (L Potter 51) v Lincs. Abandoned as a draw. Lincs 5 Staffs 5
Barrow: Hertfordshire 212-7 & 212 (MA Sharp 4-37, DB Pennett 4-49) Cumberland 228-6 & 197-6 (SM Dutton 106 not) Cumberland (23) beat Herts (5) by 4 wickets
Colwall: Hereford 225-2 & 178-5 (K Pearson 76) Dorset 181 (M Swarbrick 61, JW Shaw 6-44 inc. hat-trick) & 225-2 (M Swarbrick 114, GR Treagus 59) Dorset (18) beat Hereford (8) by 8 wickets