NCCA Cluberly Championship: Week 2 - Day One Review

Alex Blake made history by becoming the first Cornwall batter to make a double century in the NCCA Cluberly Championship on the opening day of the Western Division One match against Berkshire at Truro.

The former Kent left-hander made 208  as Cornwall piled up  against the defending Western Division champions, his third three figure score in the competition and the highest against Berkshire since 1949.

Cornwall were 68 for three when Blake arrived at the crease and he transformed the innings in a fourth wicket partnership of 180 with Xavie Clarke, the highest for any wicket for the county against Berkshire.

Clarke fell five short of what would have been a maiden Championship century when he went LBW to give Andy Rishton his fourth wicket, but Berkshire struggled to dislodge Blake.

Having reached his century from 110 balls, Blake sprinted to his double century from only 65 more deliveries, seven of which he struck for sixes and seven more for fours. Cornwall’s previous highest score in the competition was 194 made by George Rogers againstDorset at Camborne in 1938.

Alex Bone (30) played a valuable supporting innings in a sixth wicket stand of 91 and Blake reached his landmark with Jake Rowe as his partner before he was bowled aiming to pull off-spinner Adam Searle for his 12th six. Blake faced 177 balls and 146 of his runs came in boundaries.

Cornwall declared on 394 for eight and Berkshire openers Connor Lamsdale and Greg Smith survived two overs before the close.

A maiden century from Freddie Smith put Oxfordshire in command against Herefordshire at Eastnor in the other Western Division One match.

The wicketkeeper/batter turned a maiden Championship half-century into 125 not out which took Oxfordshire from 164 for six to 398 for nine in their 90 overs.

Smith shared a seventh wicket partnership of 55 with Luke Maslen, who was run out 13 short of his second Championship century, then stands of 68 for the eighth wicket with his captain Max Mannering and 87 and an unbroken one of 82 for the last with debutantEesa Nadeem.

Nadeem then claimed opener Cyrus Shafi as his maiden wicket as Herefordshire closed on 32 for two.

Staffordshire, the reigning Eastern Division champions, suffered a middle order collapse against Lincolnshire at Checkley which meant they were unable to capitalise on Sam Atkinson’s maiden five wicket haul.

Former Warwickshire Academy paceman Atkinson took five for 70 to help dismiss Lincolnshire for 246 with Jordan Cook (68), former Leicestershire batter Sam Evans (41) and Drew Sylvester (40) the main contributors.

Staffordshire made a solid enough start to their reply with opener Matt Morris making 45 before he was bowled by seamer Alex Moor. Staffordshire then slipped from 118 for four to 128 for seven in 17 balls.

Staffordshire ended the day on 159 for eight with acting-captain Michael Hill unbeaten on 39 and Moor with a competition-best four for 41.

Former Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lancashire all-rounder Wayne White had mixed fortunes for Cambridgeshire against Suffolkat Sawston.

White took five for 77 in Suffolk’s 299 for nine but he was then caught behind from Chris Steele’s first ball of Cambridgeshire’s innings as they stuttered to 32 for three when rain brought an early close.

There were solid contributions down the order for Suffolk, led by Ben Parker’s 90 with valuable supporting innings from Alex Maynard (44), captain Jack Beaumont (40) and debutant Nico Boje (33), the son of former South Africa spinner Nicky.

Rain continued to blight the Norfolk Cricket Festival at Sprowston where, after a rain-ruined draw against Hertfordshire last week,Norfolk had to wait until after lunch before play got underway against Northumberland in Eastern Division Two.

Honours were even in the 70 overs that were bowled with Alfie Cooper (80) and Charlie Hood (59) sharing a fourth wicket partnership of 120 for Norfolk and slow left-armer Joe Stuart taking a maiden five wicket haul on his Championship debut for Northumberland.

Stuart, who impressed in white ball cricket earlier this season, ended the day with five for 44 and seamer Callum Fletcher four for 81 with Norfolk 249 for nine.

Hertfordshire were indebted to their eighth wicket pair of Col Seggery and Jack Plom for shoring up their first innings against Cumbria at Bishops Stortford.

The pair added 75 with Plom, the former Essex seamer, compiling a maiden half-century in the competition to take Hertfordshire to 279 all out. Max Lawrance made 34 on debut but Hertfordshire lost impetus when they lost three wickets for 27.

Cheshire seamer Luke Young claimed Championship-best figures of six for 75 to dismiss Wiltshire for 239 at Alderley Edge in Western Division Two.

A half-century from Jack Mynott appeared to have laid the foundations for a more substantial total but Young triggered a mini-collapse which saw Wiltshire slip from 77 for one to 84 for four.

Captain Ed Young (48) and Chris Higton (40) led the recovery and Wiltshire then removed Cheshire’s top order as they closed on 80 for four.

Shropshire collapsed against Dorset at Wimborne where six wickets went down for 24 - and their last four for seven runs - after they had been put in.

Slow left-armers Mo Abbas – with a career-best four for 19 – and Connor Smith shared seven wickets and Shropshire, where 106 for four at one stage, were dismissed for 130.

Captain Luke Webb made 42 in helping Dorset gain a first innings lead but they were only 20 ahead with five wickets down at the close with seamer Ben Roberts and off-spinner Charlie Home sharing four of the wickets.

Bedfordshire batter Jake Tarling produced another eye-catching performance in the 95 runs defeat by Derbyshire in a Showcase Match at Dunstable.

Tarling made a century against Kent at the same ground in last year’s Showcase fixture and added a NCCA Cluberly Championship century in the victory over Cumbria at Dunstable last week.

Brooke Guest’s century was the centrepiece of Derbyshire’s imposing 338 for eight with Amrit Basra, recently signed for the Metro Bank Cup, making 87 against the county he has played for since 2021.

Buckinghamshire were unable to repeat their victory over Leicestershire 12 months ago as they were beaten by five wickets by Northamptonshire in a 40 overs contest at Wantage Road.

NCCA Cluberly Championship

First day of three

Eastern Division One

Sawston: Suffolk 299-9 (Ben Parker 90, Wayne White 5-77), Cambridgeshire 32-3.

Checkley: Lincolnshire 246 (Jordan Cook 68, Sam Atkinson 5-70), Staffordshire 159-8 (Alex Moor 4-41).

Western Division One

Truro: Cornwall 394-8 dec (Alex Blake 208, Xavie Clarke 95), Berkshire 3-0.

 Eastnor: Oxfordshire 398-9 (Freddie Smith 125 not out, Luke Maslen 87), Herefordshire 32-2.

Eastern Division Two

Bishops Stortford: Hertfordshire 279 (Jack Plom 50), Cumbria 50-1.

Sprowston: Norfolk 249-9 (Alfie Cooper 80, Charlie Hood 59, Joe Stuart 5-44, Callum Fletcher 4-81) v Northumberland.

Western Division Two

Alderley Edge: Wiltshire 239 (Jack Mynott 55, Luke Young 6-75), Cheshire 80-4.

Wimborne: Shropshire 130 (Mo Abbas 4-19), Dorset 150-5.

Showcase Matches

Northampton: Buckinghamshire 160 (Cam Hemp 42, Lloyd Pope 4-19), Northamptonshire 161-5. Northamptonshire won by five wickets.

Dunstable: Derbyshire 338-8 (Brooke Guest 100, Amrit Basra 87, Harry Came 79), Bedfordshire 243-8 (Jake Tarling 94). Derbyshire won by 95 runs.