Minor Counties Chapionship

Jul 21 2008 The Journal

NORTHUMBERLAND enjoyed the better of the exchanges on the opening day of their Minor Counties championship clash against leaders Suffolk at Jesmond yesterday.

Suffolk were asked to bat first and dismissed for 275. In reply Northumberland had reached 111-3 off 31 overs by the close.

Gary Stewart made an early double breakthrough when he had Ben France caught by Marc Symington at slip for 10 and then Tom Huggins caught behind for six.

Paceman Jonny Wightman, on his county debut, chipped in with the wicket of Martyn Cull for only three as the visitors slumped to 21-3 in the seventh over.

Hassan Adnan was caught by Paul Muchall off David Rutherford for 19 before Chris Warn and Nick Lee steadied the ship in a fifth-wicket stand of 111.

Warn was eventually trapped leg before for a top-scoring 70 by David Rutherford, who also accounted for Lee who made a 95-ball 46.

Phil Caley (3) and Chris Swallow (9) both perished in quick succession to leave Suffolk struggling on 191-8 in the 58th over.

However, Northumberland were frustrated by a ninth-wicket stand of 63 between Justin Bishop and Martin Smith before the latter was caught by Symington for 28. Last man Andrew McGarry was bowled by spinner Graeme Bridge to leave former Essex all-rounder Bishop unbeaten on 56.

Northumberland opening batsman Allan Worthy and Muchall produced 30 runs in a promising start before the latter was trapped leg before by Bishop for 12.

The hard-hitting Worthy was the second man out when he was superbly caught and bowled by Swallow after an aggressive 54-ball 47.

Northumberland suffered a further blow just before stumps losing David Myers who was caught by Bishop off France for 26 to leave the home side still 164 runs in arrears.

SCOREBOARD

Suffolk First Innings: T b Huggins c Nicholson b Stewart 6, B J France c Symington b Stewart 10, M G Cull c Nicholson b Wightman 3, H Adnan c Muchall b Rutherford 19, C J Warn lbw Rutherford 70, N T Lee c Nicholson b Muchall 46, P J Caley lbw Rutherford 3, C A Swallow b Rutherford 9, J E Bishop not out 56, M J W Smith c Symington b Wightman 28, A C McGarry b Bridge 5. Extras 20.

Total: 275.

Fall: 1-18, 2-19, 3-21, 4-49, 5-160, 6-172, 7-172, 8-191, 9-254, 10-275.

Bowling: Wightman 17-1-74-2, Stewart 10-3-29-2, Rutherford 19-5-56-4, Symington 9-0-30-0, Muchall 12-2-31-1, Bridge 8.2-0-45-1.

Northumberland First Innings: A Worthy c and b Swallow 47, P Muchall lbw Bishop 12, D Myers c Bishop b France 26, B Parker not out 9, P J Nicholson not out 5. Extras 12. Total (3 wickets): 111.

Fall: 1-30, 2-94, 3-104.

Bowling: Smith 6-0-33-0, Bishop 8-2-26-1, McGarry 4-0-27-0, France 7-3-10-1, Swallow 6-0-11-1.

Bonus points: Northumberland 4, Suffolk 4.