Northumberland and Norfolk draw

Northumberland opened their three-day Minor Counties Championship campaign with a draw against Norfolk at Jesmond.

The visitors were set 359 to win off 42 overs on the final day but closed on 122 without loss after Paul Muchall had compiled 129 in the hosts’ second innings.

Batting first, Northumberland posted 242 but Norfolk gained a 127-run first innings lead before Muchall’s century enabled his side to respond with 485.

Northumberland captain Phil Nicholson won the toss but openers Allan Worthy and Muchall were soon back in the pavilion with the score at seven for two in the fifth over.

Debutant David Myers and Bradley Parker launched a rescue operation to take the score to 95 including 10 fours and one six.

Marc Symington joined Myers to take the score to 131 before falling to Chris Borrett for 11. Myers finally fell to George Walker for 77 with the score at 165.

Nicholson occupied the crease for 45 minutes before Walker dismissed him. Meanwhile, dependable Graeme Bridge scored 35 in 40 minutes, including seven fours. David Rutherford too hit 23 including five fours before the innings closed.

Of the Norfolk bowlers, Chris Brown produced the most economic figures of 4-24 in 19 overs of which six were maidens.

Northumberland's Graeme Bridge impressed with both bat and ball during the three days

The Norfolk openers Carl Rogers and James Spelman got off to a good start with an opening partnership of 104 when Spelman fell to Stewart for 43. Rogers went soon after, lbw to Symington.

Ward and Amos took the score to 214 at which point Ward fell to Worthy for 75. Borrett was fourth out for 36 with the score at 283.

Amos continued to accumulate runs until he was dismissed for 80.

Runs continued to flow until Norfolk reached 369 for seven in their 90 overs. Bridge was the most accomplished bowler with 3-79.

Starting their second innings, Northumberland openers Worthy and Muchall scored at a good rate until the former fell to Borrett for 28.

Muchall and Myers built a partnership to 118 before Myers was lbw to Brown for 30. Muchall continued to score at a good rate and was eventually out for 129, an innings that included three sixes and 22 fours in 159 minutes..

When Northumberland continued their second innings on the last day with the score at 245 for four the first thoughts were to survive the opening hour and a half. Symington, one not out overnight, went on to score 86 in a controlled attack on the Norfolk bowlers.

Bridge too took up the cudgels to take his score to 72 before being caught by Brown off Eccles. Rutherford chipped in with another 26 and Northumberland were all out.

Of the Norfolk bowlers Gilliatt produced the best figures of 5-110 off 27 overs. Brown again was the most economical with 1-80 off 27 overs.

Norfolk chased at a steady rate but the umpires finally brought the players off the field with Rogers on 59 and Spelman 50.

Norfolk chairman Keith Bray said "It was a great pleasure to visit Jesmond in its new-found splendour and to enjoy three days superb weather to accompany some very competitive cricket."