Day 3 Report by Neil Goulding

By Neil Goulding

CHESHIRE's fighting spirit prevailed as they overcame all the odds to defeat Berkshire on the final day of their 3-day Minor Counties Championship Western Division match at Falkland C.C.

Andy Hall's team battled back bravely on the second day to open up a healthy 174 runs lead.

But it was a fine bowling and fielding performance on the crucial last day of action which saw Cheshire triumph by 55 runs.

Having been 336-6 overnight, Hall's team lost their last four wickets for only 18 runs, leaving a modest target of 193 for Berkshire to achieve victory.

However, spirit never wavered in the Cheshire camp and the visitors turned on the style with the ball to dismiss their hosts for 137.

Robin Fisher, the Chester Boughton Hall left-arm spinner, was the catalyst for success with fine figures of 4-37 from 20 miserly overs, while Dave Pennett, the former Nottingham paceman, weighed in with 3-59, which included the key wicket of Berkshire captain Julian Wood.

Jason Whittaker was also excellent with the ball, taking 3-21 as Berkshire crumbled under the pressure.

At 46-3 at tea Berkshire were still slight favourites, but the home team then slipped to 117-5 and from then on could find no way back. Wood's team losing their last five wickets for only 20 runs.

"We've come back from the dead," beamed Cheshire skipper Andy Hall. "We showed fantastic spirit. That has to be one of the best comeback's I've ever been involved with."

Indeed, and Hall paid special tribute to his side for a winning performance against a team he regards as "serious title-contenders".

"You can tell Berkshire are gutted, they want to win the Championship this year," added Hall, "but we never gave up and kept pressuring them.

"We didn't bat too well in the morning, some of our batting was soft, but the boys showed a great deal of character in the field.

"It was always going to be difficult to bowl them out for 192, but we were patient and waited for them to make mistakes. It's always hard chasing because the pressure is on you - and it showed.

"We can't do any more than win our first match, so I'm delighted we've started the season with a victory. Hopefully we can get another one in our next match against Devon."

Cheshire chairman Gerry Hardstaff was understandably delighted with his team's excellent victory.

Cheshire drew with Berkshire at Alderley Edge last season, but two years ago defeated their rivals at Reading C.C. in the last year of Ian Cockbain's reign as captain.

"That was a magnificent performance," said Hardstaff. "I'm very pleased with the way the team played, they turned the match on its head.

"We were led by our captain, who gave a marathon performance with the bat, and some excellent bowling. I'm absolutely delighted. I'd like us to build from here."

Minor Counties Championship - Western Division (Falkland C.C.), Final day of 3.
Cheshire 1st innings: 132 all out, 48 overs (S Renshaw 30, A Twigg 26, R Fisher 22, N Denning 5-50, S Bloyce 4-34).
FOW: 32, 39, 40, 44, 44, 67, 105, 106, 108, 132.

Berkshire 1st innings: 294 all out, 78.1 overs (S Bloyce 82, N Denning 44, J Kingstone 35, B Cutbill 3-49, J Whittaker 2-53, D Pennett 3-105).
FOW: 39, 47, 58, 65, 120, 120, 121, 200, 294, 294.

Cheshire 2nd innings: 354 all out, 105.5 overs (A Hall 160, A Twigg 86, C Crowe 6-73).
FOW: 47, 185, 233, 268, 277, 317, 351, 352, 352, 354.

Berkshire 2nd innings: 137 all out, 62.3 overs (J Perkins 40, R Fisher 4-37, D Pennett 3-59, J Whittaker 3-21).
FOW: 16, 41, 48, 95, 103, 129, 129, 129, 133, 137.

Cheshire beat Berkshire by 55 runs.

Cheshire won the toss and elected to bat

Day 2 Report by Neil Goulding

By Neil Goulding

CAPTAIN Andy Hall led by example for Cheshire with a brilliant unbeaten century which clawed his side back into contention against Berkshire at Falkland C.C. in this nip-and-tuck Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash.

Hall admitted after the first day's play that someone on the Cheshire team would have to score a big hundred to give Berkshire a run for their money.

And it was Hall himself who stepped up to the plate and crashed a wonderful 153 not out to leave the visitors with a healthy lead of 174 runs at the close of play on the second day.

The Cheshire skipper was well-aided by opener Alexis Twigg, the former Cumberland batsman, who caressed his way to 86 from 108 balls before he was bowled by Berkshire off-spinner Carl Crowe.

But it was Hall's special innings, which lasted 250 minutes and contained 23 fours, that made sure Cheshire now have a fighting chance of a victory on the final day of action, today.

A view shared by Gerry Hardstaff, the Cheshire chairman, who is hopeful his side can continue their improved form with the willow and set the home side with a difficult target to chase.

"Andrew's innings has really got us back into the match," admitted Hardstaff, who was buoyed by Cheshire's fighting spirit.

"Alexis [Twigg] batted very well, but it was Andrew's innings which has put us in a much better position after the disappointment of how we batted in the first innings."

Hall reached his 50 in only 56 balls, his century in 125 balls and then passed the 150-mark in 216 balls, having spent over four hours at the crease.

The only bowler to make any impact from Berkshire was Crowe, who finished with figures of 4-72 from 31 overs. Earlier, Steve Bloyce finished on 82 as Berkshire added 70 more runs to their overnight score of 224-8.

But the day belonged to Cheshire and Hall is confident he, and his team, can push on and make a real contest out of the final days' play.

"We were out of the game after the first day, but we've done exceptionally well to get to the position we have. We are still in the mix," said Hall.

"If we had got the last two Berkshire wickets in the first 5-10 overs, then we'd have had a much bigger lead, but I'm very happy with the way we played."

The Cheshire innings got off to a solid start with Twigg and fellow opener Danny Leech putting on 47 from 15 overs, before the latter fell just before lunch.

However, Hall's introduction yielded a splendid 2nd wicket partnership of 138 runs with Twigg, which came in good time - 79 minutes - as Cheshire drew level and then constructed their lead.

Debutante Dave Parkinson, Martyn Knight and Jason Whittaker all had good starts, but could not progress, but wicketkeeper Steve Ogilby stayed with Hall until the close as Cheshire well and truly fired their way back into the game.

"I'd like to see us get as many runs as we can, around the 100-mark or more would be nice. If we can bat until lunch with the four wickets we've got left, then hopefully we can leave Berkshire with a tough target to chase," added Hall.

"It's a good batting track, but we can still win if we can get that lead and pick up wickets if they decide to chase. I don't like boring draws.

"We are not favourites, but if we can set Berkshire a target, they will want to chase and then that helps us trying to get wickets. The morning session will be very important and will set the tempo for the rest of the match."

Minor Counties Championship - Western Division (Falkland C.C.), Day 2 of 3.
Cheshire 1st innings: 132 all out, 48 overs (S Renshaw 30, A Twigg 26, R Fisher 22, N Denning 5-50, S Bloyce 4-34).
FOW: 32, 39, 40, 44, 44, 67, 105, 106, 108, 132.

Berkshire 1st innings: (Overnight 224-8, 62 overs); 294 all out, 78.1 overs (S Bloyce 82, N Denning 42, J Kingstone 35, B Cutbill 3-49, J Whittaker 2-53, D Pennett 3-105).
FOW: 39, 47, 58, 65, 120, 120, 121, 200, 294, 294.

Cheshire 2nd innings: 336-6, 93 overs (A Hall 153 not out, A Twigg 86, C Crowe 4-72).
FOW: 47, 185, 233, 268, 277, 317.

Cheshire lead Berkshire by 174 runs with one day to play. A maximum of 90 overs available on last day.

Cheshire won the toss and elected to bat

Day 1 Report by Neil Goulding

CHESHIRE bravely battled back from a precarious position on the opening day of their 3-day Minor Counties with Berkshire at Falkland C.C.

But Andy Hall's team still trailed by 92 runs at the close of play, largely due to an unbeaten half century from Berkshire all-rounder Steve Bloyce, who stayed defiant until the end.

Skipper Hall won the toss and elected to bat, but two debatable L.B.W. decisions, plus some excellent catching and bowling from the home side, saw Cheshire slip from relative comfort at 32-0, to serious trouble at 44-5, and then 67-5.

Former Hampshire all-rounder Simon Renshaw relieved the pressure for a while with a spirited 30, but when he was dismissed shortly after lunch, Cheshire were bowled out for 132.

Alexis Twigg (26), from as many balls, and tail-ender Robin Fisher (22) were the only other batsman to make notable contributions, while wicketkeeper Steve Ogilby played a patient support roll while Renshaw was at the crease.

But, although Cheshire's batting let them down, the visitors were highly-motivated to make amends with the ball. And they duly did.

Dave Pennett, the former Nottingham paceman, made inroads with three prize scalps, including that of big-hitting Berkshire captain Julian Wood, while Barney Cutbill grabbed three wickets in his first ov