Trevor Ward's 149 had given Norfolk a good chance of victory

An incredible late collapse saw Norfolk lose their Minor Counties Championship match to Bedfordshire by 16 runs.

Chasing 363 to win, Norfolk were cruising at 336-5 but lost their last five wickets for just 10 runs.

A superb 149 from Trevor Ward backed up by 64 from debutant Felix Flower and a half-century from Chris Borrett got Norfolk into a match-winning position.

A late three-wicket spell from Justin Chopping changed the game and Bedfordshire won by 16 runs.

It was the final twist in a thrilling clash at Manor Park.

A record opening stand of 224 on the first day of the match gave Beds the early advantage and after posting 343-6 declared they quickly reduced Norfolk to 12-6.

It's unbelieveable really, we had it in the bag Norfolk captain Carl Rogers

The home side eventually made 144 but Beds did not enforce the follow-on and slipped to 82-9 in their second innings.

Captain James Knott scored an unbeaten 57 as part of a record last-wicket stand of 81 to set Norfolk a challenging victory target of 363.

Knott took the man of the match award after hitting 112 in the first innings and claiming nine victims in the match as Bedfordshire's wicket-keeper.

"It's unbelievable really, we had it in the bag," Norfolk skipper Carl Rogers told BBC Radio Norfolk.

Rogers was one of the final five wickets to fall during a dramatic final session.

"They managed just to get a foot in the door and they really squeezed it open," Rogers added.

The result means Norfolk have lost both of their fixtures at the 2008 Manor Park festival.

They take on local rivals Suffolk in their final home match of the season, starting on Sunday, 3 August 2008.