NATIONAL COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP DAY THREE REVIEW - WEEK 4

Cheshire improved their prospects of avoiding relegation and also blew National Counties Championship Western Division One wide open with a 253 runs victory over Berkshire at Nantwich.

Berkshire were shot out for 84 – their lowest total in 16 years – and suffered the third-heaviest Championship defeat by runs margin in their history.

Berkshire had been favourites to top the divisional table and qualify for next month’s final after they beat defending champions Oxfordshire three weeks ago.

Berkshire can still do that but they will now need to beat Herefordshire in their final match which starts at the Falkland club in Newbury on Sunday and take at least six bonus points if they are to overtake Oxfordshire, who sit out the final round.

There was little hint of the drama that was to unfold at Nantwich when Jonny Connell (31) and Archie Carter (13) launched Berkshire’s second innings with an opening partnership of 30.

But they then lost all their wickets for 54 with the next-highest individual score being six.

Andy Dufty returned career-best figures of 11.2-10-2-4 with Andrew Jackson taking three for eight and David Wainwright three for 17.

Wainwright, the former Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire slow left-armer, underlined his value to Cheshire by contributing his second unbeaten half-century of the match which meant that Berkshire had to chase 338 in the fourth innings.

Berkshire slow left-armer Luke Beaven took a career-best seven for 87 but his efforts came in a losing cause and were an indication of the challenge his batters were to face.

Oxfordshire wrapped up a 254 runs win over Dorset at Banbury to open up a 21 points lead over Berkshire.

Former Somerset batter Sam Young held up Oxfordshire 68 from 41 balls but he fell to slow left-armer Olly Clarke who finished with a career-best seven for 78 and match figures of ten for 107.

Suffolk threw themselves a lifeline in Eastern Division One by beating Staffordshire by five wickets at Checkley.

A maiden five wicket haul from seamer Ben Claydon dismissed Staffordshire for 190 despite the best efforts of Paul Byrne who made 29 not out in his final innings for Staffordshire.

Suffolk paced their chase of a target of 281 to perfection with Darren Ironside following up his first innings century with 81 and Michael Godwin making a maiden half-century in only his second Championship match.

They shared an opening partnership of 118 and although Byrne checked Suffolk’s progress with three wickets, to finish with nine in his farewell match, Ben Parker took Suffolk to the brink of their first win of the season with a composed half-century.

Claydon was unbeaten on 30 when victory was secured which ended Staffordshire’s already slim hopes of making next month’s final on ‘home’ soil at West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Staffordshire’s defeat now means that Lincolnshire require a maximum of six points from their final match against Norfolk at Manor Park on Sunday to secure top spot.

Devon moved to the top of Western Division Two by routing Shropshire by 280 runs at Bridgnorth.

Shropshire managed to take the match into the afternoon session – but only just – thanks to a bold counter-attacking 68 not out from Joe Stanley.

But any hope Shropshire had of holding out for a draw had long disappeared after Andre Bradfod and Graham Wagg were both caught behind fanning down leg-side and Xavier Clarke edged to the slips.

At 108 for eight it looked like being done and dusted before lunch but Stanley showed some much-needed fight although it was not enough to save Shropshire from a third defeat in four matches in a disappointing campaign that could end in them finishing bottom.

Devon, who host Wiltshire at Sidmouth on Sunday, now lead the table by six points from Wales NC, who face Cornwall at Truro in their finale to the season.

Wiltshire were frustrated by bad light then heavy rain at the South Wilts club in Salisbury where play ended just after 3pm when they were on course for victory against Cornwall.

Cornwall had been set 335 for victory but lost their top five for 50 inside 12 overs, with Matt Burton taking three of the wickets.

They had limped to 64 for five when the weather closed in and play was abandoned 90 minutes later.

Rain also brought an early close at Furness where Hertfordshire were on top against Cumbria in Eastern Division Two.

Half-centuries from Kishen Velani – to go with his first innings century – and Dominic Chatfield set up Hertfordshire’s declaration at 211 for seven, which set Cumbria a target of 296.

Three wickets from Middlesex seamer Ishaan Kaushal helped reduce Cumbria to 53 for five before Ben Davidson (49 not out) and Drew Postlethwaite (36) shored up the innings.

Cumbria were 128 for six when the rain arrived leaving Hertfordshire frustrated as it ended their mathematical chance of being promoted.

Cumbria leg-spinner Nico Watt took five for 40, his first five wicket haul, in Hertfordshire’s second innings with slow left-armer Matt Siddall taking one wicket to finish his season with 40 in four matches.

Buckinghamshire now need a maximum of three points from their final match against second-placed Cambridgeshire at Tring Park on Sunday to clinch promotion.

National Counties Championship

(Final day of three)

Eastern Division One

Checkley: Staffordshire 423-5 (Michael Hill 152, Zen Malik 145) & 190 (Michael Hill 50, Ben Claydon 5-67), Suffolk 333 (Darren Ironside 146, Alex Oxley 50, Paul Byrne 6-93) & 284-5 (Darren Ironside 81, Ben Parker 55, Michael Godwin 53). Suffolk (22pts) beat Staffordshire (8pts) by five wickets.

Western Division One

Nantwich: Cheshire 451-8 (Rob Sehmi 108, Andrew Jackson 93, David Wainwright 89 not out) & 220 (David Wainwright 63 not out, Luke Beaven 7-87), Berkshire 334-9 (Imran Malik 76, Euan Woods 52, Charlie Dunnett 50) & 84. Cheshire (24pts) beat Berkshire (7pts) by 253 runs.

Banbury: Oxfordshire 326-9 (Jonny Cater 71, Harry Smith 55, David Scott 5-115) & 281-7 dec (Jonny Cater 110 not out), Dorset 99 & 254 (Sam Young 68, Ollie Clarke 7-78). Oxfordshire (24pts) beat Dorset (4pts) by 254 runs.

Eastern Division Two

Furness: Hertfordshire 267 (Kishen Velani 134) & 211-7 dec (Kishen Velani 78, Dominic Chatfield 67, Nico Watt 5-40), Cumbria 183 (Sam Dutton 56) & 128-6. Cumbri (9pts) drew with Hertfordshire (10pts).

Western Division Two

Bridgnorth: Devon 503-5 (James Horler 174, Elliot Hamilton 137) & 202-8 dec (Calum Haggett 68, Ed Middleton 54), Shropshire 255 (George Hargrave 64, Kaz Szymanski 6-58) & 170 (Joe Stanley 68 not out). Devon (24pts) beat Shropshire (4pts) by 280 runs.

South Wilts CC: Wiltshire 346 (Josh Croom 95, Toby Kershaw 94) & 222-7 dec (Jack Mynott 116, Tom Morton 53), Cornwall 234(Ateeq Javid 68, Max Tryfonos 53) & 64-5. Wiltshire (12pts) drew with Cornwall (10pts).