Durant Cricket NCCA Championship Final 2024 - Day 3 Review

Tommy Sturgess put Berkshire in control of the Durant Cricket National Counties Championship final by taking his first five wicket haul in the competition on the third day against Staffordshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Seamer Sturgess , back playing for Berkshire after completing a short-term contract with Worcestershire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, took five for 82 to dismiss Staffordshire for 283 which gave Berkshire a first innings lead of 99.

Sturgess, a recruit from Cornwall last winter, had bowled well but with little luck on Monday afternoon but his persistence was rewarded with four of the last seven wickets that went down for 106 after another rain delayed start.

Only Sam Atkinson, with a defiant 70-ball 49, offered prolonged resistance before he was last out taken by Euan Woods on the deep midwicket boundary to give Sturgess his fifth wicket.

Berkshire then extended their lead in the bright sunshine – the best conditions of the match so far – to 267 with Rhys Lewis compiling a stylish maiden Championship half-century.

 When Staffordshire resumed their innings after a wet morning, Sturgess made early inroads, having Callum Hawkins caught behind by Dan O’Driscoll and Reeve Evitts also taken by the wicketkeeper off a top edged pull.

Berkshire introduced off-spinner Euan Woods and he immediately snared left-hander Michael Hill, who edged to Dan Lincoln at slip.

Sturgess struck again when he yorked debutant James Abbotts for nine before he was given a breather.

Staffordshire prospered for a time as Atkinson and Liam Hurt added 47 for the eighth wicket but Hurt then cut slow left-armer Luke Beaven to backward point having batted sensibly for his 22.

Atkinson pulled Charlie Dunnett for one leg-side six but Oliver Tucker miscued a sweep off Beaven to Sturgess who was then recalled at the Birmingham Road End to wrap up the innings.

Under previous regulations, Berkshire’s first innings lead would have been more significant as it would have been the deciding factor in in the event of a drawn final.

But counties voted to scrap the first innings lead rule for this season’s competition which meant Berkshire still had more work to do to turn their commanding lead into a potential match-winning one.

First innings centurion Johnny Connell was well taken by Evitts at point and Woods was bowled driving at Tom Brett’s left-arm spin.

But Lewis prospered, reaching his 50 from 96 balls with nine fours, and he added four more boundaries in reaching 78 not out at the close.

Lewis and Dunnett (49 not out) completed a day of Berkshire dominance with an unbroken century partnership for the third wicket. 

Durant Cricket National Counties Championship Final

Third day of four

West Bromwich Dartmouth: Berkshire 382 (Johnny Connell 142, Josh Lincoln 124, Tom Brett 4-92) & 168-2 (Rhys Lewis 78 not out, Charlie Dunnett 49 not out), Staffordshire 283 (James Kettleborough 64, Tom Moulton 52, Tommy Sturgess 5-82).