Staffs and Northumberland share spoils

The rain-affected Minor Counties Championship encounter between hosts Staffordshire and Northumberland finished in a draw after being reduced to one-innings-a-side.

Resuming on 67 for two, the visitors declared on 285 for seven from 81 overs leaving Staffs just 37 to chase down the target.

The home team made 151 for two, leaving both sides with eight points.

After the truncated previous two days, it came as no surprise as two further overs were lost at the start of the final day as a little drizzle delayed the proceedings.

Staffordshire were unable to make an early breakthrough and the visitors added 55 runs before former Yorkshire batsman Bradley Parker was trapped lbw by Greg Willott for 35.

Willott was unlucky not to claim another victim as he found the edge of new batsman Adam Cragg's bat but Harvey was unable to cling on to the opportunity at slip.

The fourth wicket fell on 204 when David Myers mistimed a shot off the bowling of Gareth Morris and George Cairns confidently claimed the catch to dismiss the former Bedfordshire player for 84.

Finally the visitors began to inject some urgency into their batting before eventually calling a halt to their innings having lost a further three wickets.

Staffordshire openers Peter Wilshaw and Brian Simms began the response steadily. Wilshaw departed for 21, caught at the wicket, with the total on 30, but this was to be the only success for the Northumberland bowlers until the final over of the game.

Having added 121 in partnership with fellow teacher Chris Howell, Brian Sims slashed at a wide delivery and was caught at slip for 70, which included nine boundaries.

Playing his first championship game of the season Howell remained unbeaten on 43 at the close.

Staffordshire captain Richard Harvey said: "It was hard work to try and get a result.

“We needed early wickets and didn't get them. That left them in charge to dictate proceedings and they scored far too many runs and left us far too few overs to chase down the target.

“We settled for batting practice and it was good to see Brian Sims return to form and for Chris Howell to have a good knock on his return to the side. We put them into bat and you can't expect much back in such a game.

“If it had been the other way around, I would have made sure only team could have won. I thought we stuck to our task fairly well on the field and bowled pretty well.

“It was nice for Russ Ballard to have had a game and he bowled his spell okay, and he has now been involved in the side."

Chairman Nick Archer admitted to have been "frustrated by the weather.”

“Without the efforts of the ground staff we wouldn't have had a much cricket as we did. It was good to see Sims come back to form and for Howell to show the quality we have missed for the last couple of years.

“Ballard didn't look out of place in the side and it is good to have a couple of talented young spinners challenging."

Sims admitted his relief to recapture his form: "I am really chuffed. You try to say to yourself this will be the one, but then it doesn't come, so I am really pleased today."