Minor Counties Championship

Jun 24 2009 The Journal

A FOUR-wicket haul from debutant all-rounder Michael Turns and a superb 97 from opener Dan Shurben saw Northumberland cruise to an eight-wicket Minor Counties Championship win at Bedfordshire.

Northumberland had dominated the opening two days and made light work of the final day as they secured an impressive win by mid-afternoon.

Bedfordshire started the day on 225-5 but their last five wickets managed only another 23 runs in 23 overs, as debutant pair Turns and Jonny Malkin turned the screw.

Blaydon off-break bowler Malkin struck with the day’s first ball, Carl Ferguson caught at short leg by Adam Cragg, before Turns had Marcus Steed caught on the boundary for 64.

Medium pacer Turns soon accounted for Zarshan Arshad and Carl Griggs before Malkin claimed the final wicket.

James Sneath was caught by professional Bradley Parker at leg slip as the home side were dismissed for 248 in the 78th over.

That left Northumberland, who had lost their opening five games, plenty of time to reach their modest victory target of 148.

Shurben and Turns duly put the game beyond Bedfordshire with a century stand for the first wicket before Turns, on duty with Durham Academy at Oxford today, was removed for 38.

The youngster was caught driving at mid-off by Bedfordshire substitute Mlambo, and then the destructive Shurben fell with nine runs needed for victory.

The South Shields opener had struck 13 fours and one six, and was just three short of his century when he holed out to short mid-wicket.

Parker and Marc Symington then comfortably saw Northumberland to a morale boosting victory with the winning runs in the 36th over.

SCOREBOARD

Bedfordshire 1st innings: 183 all out; Northumberland 1st innings: 284-9 declared; Bedfordshire 2nd innings; overnight 225-5 off 65 overs:

MH Steed ct Cant b Turns 64, CA Ferguson ct Griggs b Malkin 0, Z.Arshad ct Symington b Turns 10, WE Sneath not out 3, CR Griggs ct Cragg b Turns 0, JR Sneath ct Parker b Malkin 6

Extras: 3, Total: 248 all out off 77.5 overs.

Fall: 6-225, 7-239, 8-239, 9-239

Bowling: MJ Muchall 3 1 10-0; CRD Smith 11 1 64-3; MJ Symington 9 0 42-0; J.Malkin 28.5 8 72-2; TJ Cant 10 2 27-1; M.Turns 16 6 31-4

Northumberland 2nd innings: DG Shurben ct Griggs b JE Sneath 97, M.Turns ct sub (Mlambo) b Griggs 38, MJ Symington not out 13, B.Parker not out 2

Extras: 1, Total: 151-2 off 35.4 overs

Fall: 1-113, 2-139

Bowling: WE Sneath 13 1 48-0; CR Griggs 3 0 13-1; Z.Arshad 8.4 0 30-0; JR Sneath 4 2 15-1; A.Reynoldson 7 1 31-0

Northumberland (23 pts) beat Bedfordshire (5pts) by eight wickets