Cumberland were firmly in the driving seat at the end of the first day of their final Minor Counties game of the season.

In many ways it was the best day’s cricket of the summer from the Cumbrians who appear to have hosts Bedfordshire on the ropes.

Bedfordshire won the toss and opted to bat first at Luton and after 59 overs were bowled out for 186.

Bedford School opening batsman James Kettleborough made his debut for the home county and batting at number seven top-scored with an unbeaten knock of 66.

He is the latest in a line of talented 16-year-olds to play for the county in recent years, following in the footsteps of Graeme Swann and Alastair Cook, who have both starred in the England Ashes triumph this summer.

Monty Panesar is another former Bedfordshire player who is a member of the England squad, while Will Smith, skipper of reigning county champions Durham, also started out with the county.

Kettleborough's father John also played for Bedfordshire as did Swann's father Ray and brother Alec.

Dan Conway (pictured above) was Cumberland’s most successful bowler, taking 4-34 from 16 overs and he was well supported by Kendal’s Stuart Parkin (3-35) on his debut and James Smith (2-36).

Cumberland batted for 49 overs before the close and in that time had moved confidently to 200-3.

Openers James Lowe (80) and Paul Johnston (49) got Cumberland away well and that was continued by Barrow youngster Jonathan Miles (35).

Gary Pratt – who may now have lost his tag of the man who ran-out Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting to the retiring Andrew Flintoff – was unbeaten at the close on 32.
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