Fenners
June 23th - 25th 2008
London County Development XI achieve worthy victory.
London County Cricket Club’s Development XI achieved an unlikely and remarkable victory in their recent 3-day fixture against Cambridge University CC at Fenners (June 23/24/25), scoring 468 for 7 to win by 3 wickets.
London County were bowled out for 168 in the first innings following Cambridge’s 370 for 6 declared. Cambridge elected not to enforce the follow-on, and reached 263 for 6 declared at close of play on day 2.
Set 466 to win in the fourth innings on the final day of three, London County were 213 for 3 (off 29 overs) at lunch, with Middlesex’s Nick Compton (returning from injury after several weeks) unbeaten on 104.
With Compton dismissed for 132, London County reached 343 for 7 (off 68 overs) at tea. Two 17 year-olds, Ross Chadwick (127 not out) from Cornwall and Umer Ghuzali (65 not out) from Oxfordshire, then added an unbeaten 159 to ensure victory by 3 wickets with 8 overs still left to bowl in the final hour.
London County’s 466 for 7 against Cambridge University is thought to be the highest total ever made in a fourth innings to win a match since the Second World War. In English First-Class Cricket, the highest (post-war) fourth innings winning total is:
Nottinghamshire 461 for 3 versus Worcestershire in 2001. The highest ever fourth innings total to win a match in English First-Class Cricket was ironically made by Cambridge University CC versus MCC at Lord’s in 1896, when they made 507 for 7.
London County Development XI is a representative side of London County Cricket Club made up of ‘talented and undiscovered cricketers’ who have emerged from the ‘Search 4 A Star’ Programme run by the organisation aimed at identifying and developing young cricketers who are currently ‘outside the system’. London County aims to create greater opportunities through cricket to enhance the development of people selected to benefit from the process.
Commenting on the remarkable result, Team Manager/Coach Neil Burns said;
‘‘ The performance of the very young and inexperienced team was phenomenal and a testament to the character of the individuals who fought back from a very difficult position to achieve a memorable result. Nick Compton (playing as a Mentor to the ‘talented and undiscovered cricketers’) scored an outstanding century before lunch, which paved the way for victory. However, at 309 for 7 half an hour before tea, we looked to be on the edge of a heavy defeat. The two 17 year-olds Ross and Umer then displayed a maturity of temperament and a range of strokes which transformed the match. For everyone involved, it was a memorable experience.’’
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