Cricket Diary 2009 - Celebrations at the end of the road.

Posted by Tony Hutton

Thursday 10th September - Lord's Taverners under 14s Yorkshire Final - Woodhouse Grove School v Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield at New Rover, Leeds


Yet another cup final at New Rover, the third this week and another pleasant occasion, although in the end a rather easy victory for Woodhouse Grove. A slightly late start, caused by traffic problems in the centre of Leeds which delayed not only the Wakefield team bus but many of the spectators too. However this gave us chance to read the excellent programme produced for the day.
The Wakefield team listed all the various club sides with which the players are affiliated whereas the Grove side's details looked as though they had been written by the players themselves, i.e. 'very talented, elegant left hander in the Gower mould' or 'steady batsman, wizard leg spin bowler'.
Woodhouse Grove's team of all the talents then proceeded to knock up 152-9 in 40 overs without anyone making a particularly big score and a close contest looked in prospect. However sadly QUEGS somewhat faded away and were all out for 84. Another pleasant presentation ceremony presided over by Dr Knowles and Schools secretary Harold Galley with prizes for everybody saw most people, apart from the losers, go home happy.

Friday 11th September - ECB/ESCA under 15s Twenty/20 finals day at Headingley.

Another schools final day this time on a grander scale with the four schools involved all pleased to be playing on a Test Match ground. This was Twenty/20 for the connoisseur, played in white clothing, with no music or distractions of any kind. The first semi-final was between Whitgift School from Surrey and Bradfield College, Berkshire.
Bradfield's 99-9 never seemed enough and so it proved when Whitgift got 100-6 with three overs to spare. Shrewsbury School then took on Manchester Grammar School, the only northern side, in the other semi-final. Shrewsbury looked a class act when they batted and raced to 163-5 with wicketkeeper Jack Bailey scoring a fine 50. In reply Manchester made 139-4, so plenty of wickets in hand but they just could not pierce the well set Shrewsbury field.

So onto the final which started on time, evidence of the satisfactory over rate throughout the day. Whitgift perhaps thought they had scored just over par with 132-5 but this proved no challenge at all to Shrewsbury, particularly Leach and Hudson Williams, who both scored half centuries and they strolled to a nine wicket victory with two and half overs to spare.

Another excellent day's cricket with well over 700 runs scored in 115 overs and to add to the all round satisfaction, one of the umpires asked if he could say a few words before the presentations and complimented all four teams on their sportsmanlike behaviour throughout the day. The perfect weather was the icing on the cake for all the spectators.

Saturday 12th September - Yorkshire Academy v Hull & YPI at Headingley and Kirkstall Educational v Adel

Last day of league cricket this season in most of the Yorkshire leagues. The Premier League clash between second club Yorkshire Academy and bottom side Hull, was all about whether the Academy could retain the runners up position by taking the maximum eight points, which meant they had to bowl Hull all out.
Sadly they were pipped on the post as Hull made 176-9 and despite an excellent bowling performance by left arm spinner Randhawa , with 7-61, they could not take the last wicket.
The victory came easily enough with Gary Ballance taking full advantage of some poor bowling to score a rapid 108 not out, partnered by Calum Geldart with 58 not out at the end. So a nine wicket victory with sixteen overs to spare, but only six points instead of eight and with Scarborough having obtained maximum points today, they finished in second place with the Academy third.
However a great effort by this very young side who have shown great consistency all season, despite the loss of Bairstow and Rafiq to first team cricket. Tomorrow sees them in action again with yet another confrontation with champions York in the league cup final.

Meanwhile just round the corner from Headingley, Kirkstall last season's Aire Wharfe champions were taking on Adel in their last match. It was fitting that two of Adel's longest serving players were the stars of the show. Adel, batting first, making 234 all out and left hander Dave Standring accelerating the scoring in the last few overs with 78. Then it was the turn of veteran spinner Jeff Shires who finished off Kirkstall with 6-50 despite Joss Siddall's 67.
A good end to the season for Adel but Kirkstall who have lost several leading players only a shadow of their championship side from last season. Again the sun shone almost to the end but a chill autumn breeze told us this was the end of the league season.

Sunday 13th September - Yorkshire Premier League cup final - Yorkshire Academy v York at Headingley.

This really was the end, certainly as far as my own cricket watching for the season was concerned. A larger than normal crowd to watch the Academy included good support from York hoping that their team would complete the league and cup double.
The Academy's only hope it seemed was to dismiss the York top three cheaply and they made an excllent start by getting rid of Aussie record breaker Wilson for only two thanks to a great catch behind the wicket by Jonathan Bairstow. The dangerous Snell made only 38, but then Simon Mason with 53 brought York back into the game.

Then it was the turn of Azeem Rafiq, who was so prominent for the Academy earlier in the season, to bowl a fine spell of 10-0-31-3 and turn the game. Even so York had made a competitive score of 207-7 in their 50 overs.

The Academy's opening pair of Ballance and Root, who have both done so well this season in their contrasting styles took no early chances and put on a splendid opening stand of 102 before Root was out for 38. Dan Wilson than put his imprint on the game - only a change bowler he took 3-21 in five overs. Bairstow though had played a valuable innings of 47 and Roebuck blasted a quick 40 to keep Yorkshire ahead of the rate and in the end it was a stroll when captain John Balain came out to join Jack Hargreaves, who made the winning hit for four with six overs left.

Great celebration in the Academy camp, the cup was their's and congratulations are due to all the players, to captain John Blain and coach Steve Oldham for providing such good cricket to watch all season, particularly for their most dedicated followers, home and away, John and Jennifer Ellison and Mollie Staines.

There is still cricket to be played but now it is time for me to depart to foreign parts to celebrate my two grandson's birthdays next week and leave you in the capable hands of Peter Davies and possibly Michael Bourne, to round up the end of season action.