Minor Counties Cricket Round Up

Reigning Minor Counties champions Cumberland were given a first-innings grilling by Lincolnshire before rain intervened on the opening day at Lincoln Lindum. The Eastern Division leaders, 30 points clear at the top at the start of the game, slumped to 19 for five in reply to Lincolnshire's 172 all out, and were doggedly attempting to repair the damage on 37 for five when the weather took a turn for the worse.

Norfolk, too, had their backs against the wall against Buckinghamshire at Beaconsfield. They lurched to 55 for six before Rob Moyser (50 not out) and Paul Bradshaw (34 not out) added an unbroken 82 for the seventh wicket. Buckinghamshire had earlier revived from 91 for seven to 195 all out, No. 9 batsman Paul Woodroffe hitting 60 as a last-wicket stand with Simon Stanway (18 not out) added a vital 71 runs.

Hertfordshire and Suffolk shared the honours on the opening day at Long Marston, where the host club were presented with a framed scorecard of last year's match against Staffordshire when Paul O'Reilly took 10 for 38, but Berkshire were clearly in the ascendancy against Western Division visitors Cornwall at Hurst. Cornwall followed on 165 runs behind after being bowled out for 96, ex-England Test spinner John Emburey again amongst the wickets with four for 35.

In the ECB 38-County Cup, Cheshire joined Norfolk in the quarter-finals after beating local rivals Staffordshire by 50 runs at Nantwich. Stuart Stoneman (43 not out off 25 balls, three for 22 and a blinding full-length catch) was the individual star as Cheshire made it five one-day wins out of five over Staffordshire since 1988.

Craig Haupt, Oxfordshire's South African-born allrounder, hit 100 not out in the eight-wicket win over the Kent Board at Challow and Childrey while Dorset maintained their hopes of a place in the last eight by defeating the Hampshire Board at Dean Park.

Minor Counties Championship
Colwyn Bay: Wales Minor C 31-3 v Shropshire. Rain.
Beaconsfield: Buckinghamshire 195 (PJ Woodroffe 60) Norfolk 137-6 (RA Moyser 50 not out)
Long Marston: Hertfordshire 171 & 55-0 Suffolk 169-8
Hurst: Berkshire 261 (SA Seymour 63, MG Lane 50, NTP George 5-43) Cornwall 96 (JE Emburey 4-35) and following on 43-1
Lincoln Lindum: Lincolnshire 172 (JC Harrison 74, DM Wheatman 6-34) Cumberland 37-5

ECB 38-County Cup
Bristol University: Somerset CB 171-8 Gloucs CB 175-2 (I Mohammed 77, CRJ Budd 70 not) Gloucs CB won by 8 wickets
Dean Park, Bournemouth: Hants CB 157-6 Dorset 158-5 Dorset won by 5 wickets
Ramsey: Middlesex CB 256-9 (E Joyce 78) Hunts 67 (K Marc 4-15) Middlesex won by 189 runs
Raunds: Cambs 169 v Northants CB - Match abandoned - rain
Nantwich: Cheshire 233-6 (ND Cross 57) Staffs 183 (L Potter 64) Cheshire won by 50 runs
Challow and Childrey: Kent CB 260-9 (J Bowden 121) Oxon 261-2 (CA Haupt 100 not, KR Mustow 67, BJ Thompson 60 not) Oxon won by 8 wickets
Wigan: Lancs CB 192 (G Knowles 58) Northumberland 193-5 (G Hallam 50) Northumberland won by 5 wickets