County are quick to seal first win

Apr 28 2008 The Journal

NORTHUMBERLAND got their 2008 MCCA Trophy campaign underway with a victory over Suffolk in a rain-affected contest at Gosforth.

Asked to bat first, Suffolk made a respectable looking 175-7 while in reply, North had reached 110-2 off 16 overs to win the game on a faster scoring run rate.

After the start was delayed until 3pm and the game reduced to 33 overs per side, Suffolk made a solid start.

Opening batsman Tom Huggins and Ben France put on 46 before the former was victim of a fine running catch by Bradley Parker off Matthew Muchall for 18.

North made a double breakthrough with the sore on 69 when France was trapped leg before by Marc Symington for 34 while Andrew Mawson was caught by Stephen Humble to leave the visitors struggling under the grey leaden skies. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals before Justin Bishop and Phil Edwards revived the visitors’ innings with an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 52.

Muchall was the more successful of the North attack with 3-30 from his seven overs while spinner Graeme Bridge and Symington claimed two wickets apiece.

Suffolk made an early breakthrough when Allan Worthy holed out to Hassan Adnan off Paul King for 19.

However a second-wicket stand of 73 between Ian Pattison and Simon Birtwisle saw Northumberland easily pass their initial target of 54 in the opening 10 overs. Birtwisle was eventually caught by King at mid on off France for a 41-ball 26.

Swalwell batsman Pattison remained unbeaten on 58 which included four sixes and four fours before heavy rain had the final say to bring the game to a premature finish.