Atkinson shares in big Cumberland stand (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Atkinson shares in big Cumberland stand

11:48am Tuesday 9th August 2011 in Cumberland CCC By Richard Daniels, Sports editor

CUMBERLAND lead Hertfordshire by 117 runs with nine second-innings wickets still intact going into the final day of their Minor Counties Championship match at Long Marston.

In their first innings, Chris Thompson and Netherfield’s Alex Atkinson shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 137, only five runs short of the Cumberland record.

Cumberland closed on 374-9 declared off 87 overs, with Thompson hitting 124, Pratt 83 and Atkinson 68.

Thompson hit 20 fours and batted 166 minutes and faced 133 balls.

In reply, Hertfordshire were 277-9 declared (off 89.2 overs) with Nesan Jeyaratnam top-scoring with 116 after James Beaumont took 4-91.

Cumberland team manager Ian Sharp said: “The team had batted and bowled superbly throughout and they were hoping to set Hertfordshire a realistic target in their second innings.”