Spirited Berkshire fall short in final

A kamikaze display of batting from the top order effectively demolished Berkshire CCC’s chances of lifting the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy at Lord’s on Wednesday, as they succumbed to Devon by 40 runs.

Berkshire won the toss and asked the west country side to bat in the hope that the green track and humid conditions would work in their favour.

Unfortunately, a back injury to Berkshire professional Richard Johnson, which reduced his contribution to four below par overs, ensured that, apart from the wicket of Sandy Allen, the Royal Counties attack struggled for penetration.

Devon batted cautiously, and from 14-1, skipper Bobby Dawson and Chris Mole added 191 in 36 overs for the second wicket with a controlled display of batting to set up a grandstand finish to the innings.

Spinner Carl Crowe (1-32) and seamer Tom Lambert (1-30) were the pick of the Berkshire attack, but having to use Mitchell Stokes’ irregular medium-pacers to cover for Johnson, proved costly, as although Devon were held to 249-4 with two overs remaining, those last 12 deliveries went for 41 runs to see the batting side to a challenging 290-4.

Dawson was eventually out for an excellent 96 - edging a long hop, which was also the 11th ball of a wides-ridden over, to keeper Bjorn Mordt while Moles made 67.

A brilliant cameo from Neil Hancock saw him smash a quickfire 53 not out, assisted by 25 not out from David Lye, as the momentum swung against Berkshire.

The reply from Berkshire could not have been more different from Devon’s innings. The chasing side went out to the middle in an aggressive frame of mind and put bat to ball from the off.

David Barnes was lost in the first over, but Stokes (42) and Craig Crowe carted the bowling to all parts as 67 was reached in just the ninth over. Then Stokes was brilliantly caught by Lye at cover and Crowe (21) went next ball.

This did not deter Berkshire who continued to bat with, for want of a better word, freedom, however this proved their downfall as 67-1 in the ninth over became 113-6 in the 20th.

Finally, two players - skipper Mordt and Paul Carter - batted conservatively and added 91 runs in 20 overs without even looking like getting out.

But just when it looked like Berkshire had given themselves a chance, Carter was run out for 31 after a push to mid-off to which Mordt did not respond, and then the captain himself was out soon after for an excellent 79, effectively ending his team’s hopes of success.

Carl Crowe (29) and Tom Lambert added 35 for the final wicket, but when the former was out with two overs remaining, Berkshire were 40  runs shy.

Ian Bishop (4-40) made the initial inroads for Devon, while Hancock’s half hour, this time with the ball, ripped the guts out of a defuddled middle order.

Skipper Dawson was named man of the match - presumably just pipping Hancock - an award he happily accepted along with the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy.

 After the match, Berkshire skipper Mordt said: “I thought we would win, even when we were six wickets down. I know that 290 is a large total to chase, but with a short boundary one side I thought we’d do it.

“It was a shame Paul Carter got run out because I didn’t think they would get him. Even then if I had not got out, I thought we could do it, but it was not to be.”

Watch video highlights of the match here.