Berkshire batsmen create Minor Counties history
Sportsdesk • Published 28 Jul 2011 08:30
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JONO McLean and Michael Roberts produced a devastating batting display to power their way into the annals of Minor Counties cricket history.
Both passed 200 as Berkshire powered to a formidable total of 507-7 off 90 overs.
Herefordshire were then bowled out for 214 in their first innings and 249 in their second to leave Berkshire the winners by an innings and 44 runs with more than a day to spare.
The awesome batting performances secured several new entries in the record books.
McLean and Roberts, having come together when the total was on 26 following the dismissal of David Barnes for nine, shared a second-wicket stand of 371.
It was the highest total ever recorded for any wicket by Berkshire and the biggest involving two Minor County sides.
The old county record was 253 by Steve Naylor and Tom Fray also against Herefordshire, while the previous best Minor Counties partnership was 335 by Norfolk against Hertfordshire.
The MCCA lists their highest stand as being 388, but that was in game between Surrey II and Sussex II at the Oval in 1949
McLean's total of 210no was the highest ever made in a game at Finchampstead, beating Gary Loveday's 185 which came in a knock-out cup game in 1989.
And Finchampstead batsman Loveday was at the ground on Sunday to see his record broken.
McLean, who reached 200 off 242 balls with the help of two sixes and 28 fours, moves up to fourth in the all-time Berkshire individual innings list, with Roberts two places behind him.
Roberts, being watched by a Northamptonshire representative, was dropped just before completing his first century, which came before lunch on Sunday.
His 200 came off 234 deliveries and contained a six and 28 fours. He was then caught on the boundary for 205.
Berkshire's total of 507 was the second highest in the club's history, the record being 537 which came against Devon in 1921, when teams were not restricted to 90 overs in the first innings like they are today.
While Henley club-mates McLean and Roberts dominated the opening day, the honours on day two went to the bowlers as Herefordshire were bowled out twice.
The visitors, having been 91-2 overnight, collapsed from 114-3 to 214 all out, with skipper Chris Burroughs top scoring with 77.
Carl Crowe, who returned to the side after brother Craig was forced to pull out due to work commitments, took 3-16 off 8.3 overs, while Tom Parsons maintained his good form with 3-50 off 13.
There were two wickets for Shaun Udal and the former England spinner captured another five in the second innings, leaving him with match figures of 7-109.
With Chris Peploe chipping in with three wickets, Herefordshire were bowled out for 249 on Monday evening.
Berkshire have now won all four of their games in the Championship and are virtually certain of winning the Western Division title.
They have two away matches remaining, against Oxfordshire at Banbury and Devon at Sidmouth, both in August.
Man-of-match McLean, added: "This was a fantastic win. I was delighted with my score, but it was another tremendous team effort.
"I enjoy playing for this side as they are a great bunch of boys and the team spirit could not be better."
His double-century came just a day after he had been dismissed for a duck in Henley's league game at Falkland, while in Berkshire's previous match against Wiltshire he was out for nought in the first innings before going on to make 139 in the second.
"It's just one of those things," said McLean. "On some days I get a really good ball early in the my innings, but then next time I am able to put an innings together. It happens to most batsmen."
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