Berkshire reign over Lincolnshire

ECBtv was at the conclusion of the Minor Counties season - watch the video report and an interview with Berkshire skipper Bjorn Mordt now

Berkshire made light of the loss of two days to rain as they clinched the Minor Counties Championship with victory over Lincolnshire.

The Western Division champions were crowned overall winners of the title courtesy of an eight-wicket win at Falklands CC which went a considerable way to making up for the disappointment of losing the MCCA Knockout Trophy final to Devon last month.

The first and third days of the four-day encounter were washed out without a ball being bowled, but Berkshire collected their first championship trophy since 1953 on the back of Carl Crowe’s 12-wicket haul in the match.

The former Leicestershire off-spinner claimed 6-42 to bowl Lincolnshire out for just 105 in reply to Berkshire’s 358 for six declared, of which captain Bjorn Mordt made 100 not out and Daniel Shilvock 82.

Forced to follow on, Lincolnshire managed a much-improved 311 at the second time of asking, thanks to half-centuries from Mathew Dowman, Vikram Atri and Paul Cook.

However, Crowe – opening the bowling – took 6-107 to finish with match figures of 12-149 and leave Berkshire chasing 59 to win in 13 overs.

They required little more than eight overs to reach their target as Mitchell Stokes followed up his rapid 48 in the first innings with a brutal 35 off just 16 balls to hurry Berkshire home.