Match report by David Wright

Scorecard
 v Suffolk CCC 23rd May 2010 @ Ramsomes, Ipswich

BERKSHIRE just lost out in a sizzling MCCA Knock-out Trophy match against Suffolk at Ipswich on Sunday.

The home side, inspired by an unbeaten century from Denmark international Freddie Klokker, rattled up 300-8 in their 50 overs.

Berkshire made a tremendous effort to reach their target and at one stage looked on course for victory, but in the end fell just short at 293-9, losing by seven runs.

It means the county have gone through their four group matches without of a win, but no side has suffered more from the weather.

Their first home game with Cambridgeshire was totally washed out, while their other home match, against Lincolnshire, was abandoned due to rain when evenly poised.

Skipper Bjorn Mordt and his players were determined to take their frustration out on Suffolk and played their part in a thoroughly entertaining game, which saw the initiative swing one way and then the other.

The Berkshire pace attack of Stephen Wheeler, Tom Lambert and first-change Tom Parsons all met with success.

They gained the breakthrough with Suffolk on 41 in just five overs, but then ripped through the top order to leave the home side in deep trouble at 136-7 in the 29th over.

But Berkshire’s hopes of mopping up the tailenders soon disappeared.

The left-handed Klokker, 27, who has played for Derbyshire and Warwickshire, was joined by Welshman Peter Turnbull and they turned the game Suffolk’s way.

The pair put on 156 for the eighth wicket before Turnbull was caught off the bowling of Wheeler for 84, made off 63 deliveries.

Klokker went on to complete his century off just 108 balls, hitting 10 boundaries in the process.

It wasn’t a chanceless innings and, on another day, he could well have been dismissed more than once.

The Berkshire batsmen took a leaf out of his book and David Barnes and Craig Crowe blasted 21 off the first two overs.

After conceding 15 runs, including a wide and a no-ball, Turnbull was immediately withdrawn from the attack.

But the two openers were in full stride and both raced past their half-centuries.

The stand was worth 125 when Crowe was stumped for 57, made off 65 balls.

Fourteen runs later Barnes’ 90-minute innings was ended for 66, which contained eight boundaries.

Skipper Bjorn Mordt, out for a four-ball duck, and Steve Naylor (5) soon followed to leave Berks on 154-4 in the 29th over.

But Jono McLean and James Morris got the visitors back on course with a fifth-wicket stand of 97.

McLean was dismissed for 53 and Morris soon followed with 55 to leave Berks on 256-6 in the 46th over.

The game was now back in Suffolk’s favour, but the Royal county were far from finished.

Carl Crowe hit a sprightly 24 with the help of two sixes and a four before being trapped lbw by Chris Swallow, but Stewart Davison (7) and Wheeler (0) were both bowled by Ben France in the same over as Berkshire’s brave bid ended at 301-9 after 50 overs.

So Berkshire’s knock-out campaign has been one of disappointment, but manager David Morris believes his team are better equipped to the three-day game and he is confident they will make a winning start to the MCCA Championship when they take on Dorset at Falkland CC on June 6-8.

Berkshire wish a speedy recovery to team official Peter Harris, who was admitted to hospital after being taken ill last week.