Bedfordshire clinch epic encounter

Bedfordshire are back in the title race after beating Norfolk by 16 runs in one of the most remarkable Minor Counties Championship games of all time at Norwich.

Norfolk seemed doomed on the first day when Bedfordshire rattled up 343 for under a blazing sun and then reduced their opponents to 12 for six.

But the home side hit back on the second day, clawing their way up to 144 and then, after Bedfordshire had decided against enforcing the following on because of the heat, knocking over nine Beds batsmen for 82 in the second innings.

The odds swung again when the last pair came within one run of doubling the score leaving Norfolk to score 363 for victory on the last day.

And when Trevor Ward flayed the bowling to score a magnificent 149, they looked like doing just that. But just when Bedfordshire seemed down and out they snatched the last five wickets for 20 runs to grab an almost unbelievable victory.

In a game of many superb individual performances Beds’ skipper James Knott still managed to stand out. He cracked 112 as he and Richard Howitt, who batted throughout to make an unbeaten 165, shared an opening partnership of 224 in the first innings.

On the second day, he returned from hospital after being hit in the mouth while keeping wicket to make 57 not out and rescue the side in that last-wicket partnership with Will Sneath, who made an invaluable 29.

Then it was his brilliant leg side stumping of Ward off Andy Roberts that halted the Norfolk charge and he also took eight catches in the match for good measure.

Sneath might also have won man of the match in any other game. Called up at the last moment when Brad Matthews was injured in his Saturday club game, it was he who shattered the Norfolk first innings taking 6-31.

And right at the death it was 17-year-old Jack Chopping who came up with the goods. Having gone for 49 runs in his first seven overs, he then produced a match-winning burst taking three wickets for one run.

"What a fantastic game," said an overjoyed Knott afterwards. "This is a side that never knows when it is beaten. I can't praise everyone highly enough. The win has put us right back in the hunt for the title."

Bedfordshire are in fact 13 points behind leaders Lincolnshire, who they play in their last game, and four points behind Staffordshire next up at Knypersley starting on Sunday.

Scores: Bedfordshire 343 for six (Howitt 165 not out, Knott 112) and 163 (Knott 57 not out; Walker 5-59). Staffordshire 144 (Sneath 6-33) and 346 (Ward 149, Flower 64, Borrett 58).