Bedfordshire cling on for Northumberland draw

The hosts were in control for most of the three days and Beds finished the final sessions on 283-9 after being set a mammoth target off 470 to win off 80 overs on the last day.

Beds had been made to toil in the first innings by Northumberland who amassed a mighty 461-9 from their 90 overs.

Adam Cragg led the run fest with 164 , while other major contributions came from Thomas Cant (90), Karl Turner (82) and Nicholas Phillips (64).

Zashan Arshad was Beds’ most potent bowler taking 3-46, while there were two each for Colin Griggs (2-76), Andy Reynoldson (2-79) and Tom Brett (2-158).

Bedfordshire started their reply well and at one point were 233-4, before a batting collapse saw them slump to 317 all out with just over two overs left as they fell frustratingly eight runs short of a fourth batting point.

Luke Thomas just missed out on his century as he was run out for 98, Andy Reynoldson notched a half-century with his 61, while other notable contributions came from skipper James Hewitt (46) and Cameron Wake (25).

After falling to 29-2, it was more of the same from Northumberland in the second innings as they eventually declared on 325-6, setting Beds an imposing target.

Former Leicestershire batsman Jacques Du Toit did most of the damage with 136, while Turner was out for 99 as Martin Weightman took two wickets and there was one each for Reynoldson, Brett and Griggs.

Beds stuttered in their reply as a number of players made starts but failed to progress.

Hewitt departed for 32 and Thomas for 48, but George Thurstance (16) and Alex Martin (eight) went more cheaply.

Wake helped to steady the ship before falling for 37, while Reynoldson continued Beds’ resistance.

Reynoldson eventually departed for the pavilion after making 57, while Alex Walker scored 29 before he too followed suit.

Weightman went for just two late in the day and Beds faced a nervous finish when Arshad went for 21, but Griggs and Brett both finished unbeaten on five as Beds clung on.