Batsmen on top as Beds draw with Herts

The visitors won the toss on Sunday morning and opted to bat first, racking up a formidable 406-6 in just 90 overs.

Opening pair George Thurstance and Luke Thomas set the tone, putting on a superb 275 partnership, with both passing 100.

Thurstance was out for 156 from 200 balls, while Thomas soon followed, caught for 119, his third successive hundred for Beds.

There was no respite for Herts though as Elliot Callis (56) and skipper Andy Reynoldson (46) put on 90 in just 16 overs, as Beds called it a day when they passed 400.

It had looked like the visiting bowlers would give their side a healthy lead as they reduced their opponents to 122-4, with wickets for Adam Nunn, Reynoldson, Thurstance and Ed Wharton.

However, former Beds batsman Dan Blacktopp resisted for almost four hours, run out for 98, but the lower order dug in, as Herts declared on 376-8, trailing by just 30 runs.

Beds’ second innings didn’t have quite the same start with Thurstance out for 16, while Callis followed for 30.

Thomas (45) and Nick Barden (39) were also dismissed and when both Nick Lee and Greg Hofbauer fell, leaving Beds on 203-6 it looked like a result could be on.

Reynoldson then followed for a battling 67 at 258, before Beds lower order really carried the fight to the opposition.

Colin Griggs and Jake Nicholls added 70 for the eighth wicket, before Nicholls and number 10 Wharton put on an impressive 85.

Nichols went to a superb hundred, eventually dismissed for 122 from 201 balls, while Wharton was last man out for 36, as Beds finished on 418, before both captains shook hands.