Cumbria lost to Bedfordshire in their opening match of this year’s Durrant Cricket National County Championship by 9 wickets, not least because they lost the toss and the first session, writes Roxine Beaumont-Sempill.
When Bedfordshire hosted Cumbria at Dunstable Cricket Club in a one-day match on Sunday May 4, the visitors were victorious by five wickets.
Matthew Sempill had amassed a century, his Cockermouth teammate Greg Platten a 50 and his former Cockermouth teammate Sam Sharp took 5 wickets.
On that occasion, Dunstable was so cold that, by the end of the match, Cockermouth players viewing from the balcony had to wear two pairs of trousers to try to keep warm!
In the days before the recent three-day match at the same venue, the weather forecast was dire: light rain with occasional showers.
So, as they travelled south the Sausages and their supporters were anticipating, if not a wash-out, a close contest in cold and wet conditions. How wrong could they be!
Rain did indeed delay start of play until 2.40pm, and there was a brief shower which caused an interruption to play at about 3.40pm. Despite the yellowing grass suggesting hard non-absorbent ground, it dried up very quickly. There was a stiffish breeze end to end up the slope.
The hosts won the toss and elected to field, which was a masterstroke. Under low threatening dark clouds, the ball was moving laterally.
Cumbria were all out for 81 off 26.1 overs by tea, an innings largely summed up by four words – bowled or caught behind.
In summary, and not in batting order: Ben Walkden (Newton-le Willows, 0) and Josh Brown (Cockermouth) were clean bowled. Max Winskill (3) and Sam Sharp (2) (both Kendal), Reece Irving (Netherfield, 16), Ben Davidson (1) and Nico Watt (5) (both Carlisle) all caught behind, mostly edges off attempted leaves or blocks.
Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth, 0), Freddie Fallows (Kendal, 14) and Drew Postlethwaite (Barrow) were out to field catches at midwicket, backward point and deep square leg respectively. The latter having put in a heroic shift, scoring 34 off 46 balls, 4 X 4s and 1 X 6.
Postlethwaite also put on highest partnership with Watt of 24 from 46.
Oscar Phillips posted the best bowling figures of 9 overs, 4 maidens, 4 for 22.
By the close of play on day one, Bedfordshire were 169 for 1 off 44 overs. The only wicket was that of Arush Buchake, caught at first slip by Walkden off Brown 1st ball 4th over.
On the Monday Jake Tarling (Leicestershire 2nds) and Oli Soames (ex-Hampshire) were able to take full advantage of the benign conditions, building an unbelievable partnership of 315 off 467 balls before Soames (180 off 227, 22 X 4s, 1 X 6) was caught by Sempill at long-on off Matt Siddall (Fleetwood).
Two overs later Siddall struck again dismissing Tarling (148 off 262 balls, 12 X 4s, 4 X 6s), caught behind. Next over keeper Postlethwaite’s gloves also took the wicket of Harry Gouldstone off Brown. Lunch followed 2 overs later and the hosts declared on 374/4 off 85.6.
Cumbria got off to a much more measured, secure start, with three partnerships of 26 off 57 (Irving/Walkden), 35 off 57 (Irving/Winskill) and 31 off 46 (Winskill/Sempill). Walkden (15 off 22) was caught behind; Irving (28 off 61) and Winskill (31 off 60) were both out lbw.
The latter’s dismissal brought Sempill and Davidson together: teammates since Cumbria U10s in 2008. Their partnership of 112 off 207 balls was the heart of the innings.
In an effort to break the partnership Matt Coles (ex-Kent, England Lions, Hampshire, Essex) had a few spells at silly mid-off without a helmet.
In the 61st over Davidson (37 off 107, 4 X 4s) was caught by Buchake at short leg off Coles. 204/4 off 60.4 overs.
The next over from Tarling was a bit spicy with Sempill subjected to some bodyline bowling. Sempill swayed from the first ball that spat up, but the second struck him forcibly on the left collarbone leaving him visibly stunned.
A couple of overs later a thunderstorm visible from the ground forced the umpires to stop play for at least 30 minutes, and subsequently for the day.
On the last morning Sempill and Fallows completed their 30-run partnership before Freddie (17 off 18, 4 X 4s) played all around a delivery from Tarling and was bowled.
After about an hour’s play there were two frustrating rain breaks when Sempill was on 98. But his 100 runs came in 166 balls, 204 minutes (14x4s). Then he and Possy (32 off 49) continued with their partnership of 63 off 87 before the latter was bamboozled by a ball from Phillips which knocked his stumps over.
Watt (5) was out to a low catch at Cover, Sharpy (3) and Brown (1) both bowled to bring the score to 316/9 off 92.1 overs.
Siddall joined his skipper, and, after a few overs, thoughts turned to Stokes and Leach, Headingly, 2019. That test-saving epic had been a 62-ball, 76-run partnership, with Jack Leach 1 no off 17 balls, and involved several instances of judicious cleaning of his glasses. Cumbria’s pair put on an 87-ball, 45-run partnership, with Siddall 1 no off 29 balls. His glasses were untended, so Sids is unlikely to be rewarded with an optician’s deal!
Sempill was bowled by Archie Houghton. His figures were 161 off 258 balls, 324 minutes, 21 X 4s, 1 X 6) strike rate 62.40. 361 all out from 106.4 overs. The hosts knocked off the required runs, for the loss of Buchake, bowled Siddall, caught Watt at mid-off. Tarling (39 off 37) and Soames (13 off 11) were the not out batsmen.
Cumbria’s next match is in the Durrant Cricket National County Championship.
Sunday July 27 to Tuesday July 29 v Hertfordshire at Bishop’s Stortford Cricket Club
Sunday August 17 to Tuesday August 19 v Northumberland at Furness Cricket Club
The Super 12s of NCCA’s T20 competition are on Sunday August 3 at Sawston and Babraham Cricket Club, Cambridgeshire.
Cumbria’s two matches start at 1pm and 4.30pm, against Cambridgeshire and Northumberland, with order to be decided in first match between those two counties.
