Sharp rues county's inexperience

Cumberland captain Marcus Sharp has said he believes a lack of experience cost them in their four-run defeat to Bedfordshire at Barrow on Tuesday.

Sharp's side needed 262 to win but a late collapse saw them bowled out for 257, five runs short of their target.

He told BBC Radio Cumbria: "The problem at the bottom of the order is not enough of us have experienced that in the past.

"It's a lack of experience in that situation that has cost us."

With Cumberland stuttering with figures of 125-5 at one point in the match, Sharp was quick to praise the middle order for their efforts in getting the county back into the fixture.

"There was a cracking stand between Alex Roberts and Scott Kerr, which got us back into it at 227-5 at that point," he said.

"At that stage we looked like we were going to win it comfortably but unfortunately we feel in an inglorious heap."