Saturday 5th September - York v Yorkshire Academy at Clifton Park
A strange day in many ways. Good, dry weather all the way to York from Leeds. Cricket going on at Dringhouses on the south side of the city, but on the north side a long rain delay at Clifton Park for this vital game. York were three points ahead of the Academy with just two games remaining.
While waiting for the game to start there was plenty of counter attractions going on as not only were Clifton Alliance playing Thirsk in the York Senior League on the ground next door, but York Rugby Union's 2nd XV were also in action on the adjoining ground. The big new multi purpose sports pavilion is also taking shape and will be an added attraction next season.
Eventually, after rumours that York thought the conditions unfit to play, the game started on the basis of a 38 overs per side contest instead of the normal 55 overs. The Academy batted and perhaps had the worst of the conditions. In no time they were 48-4 with Root, Geldart, Roebuck and Rafiq all out. Ballance however held firm and together with Jack Hughes put on 38 for the fifth wicket. Ballance was eventually out for 39 which proved to be top score, but the tailenders put on valuable runs before skipper Blain ran himself out for a duck and the innings ended on 158-9.
York's opening bowlers Laidlaw with 2-33 and Bartram with 3-55 had
bowled well and at the tea interval most of the large crowd would have put money on York's powerful batting line up to see them home to victory and the league title.
The prolific opening pair of Australian Dan Wilson, who last week broke the league's all time run aggregate record for a season, and Duncan Snell, who we have seen scoring runs galore in university cricket earlier in the season, put on 71 for the first wicket. When Rafiq bowled Wilson for only 38 the Academy perhaps felt in with a chance, but Snell continued on his merry way and even the fall of two more wickets could not prevent the inevitable York win.
Snell not only finished the season with 1,000 runs in Yorkshire League cricket but did it in style by hitting a six to end with 79 not out. So York once again became league champions and it must be said deservedly so with a very powerful all round side. The Academy youngsters deserve praise for their splendidly consistent season and no doubt much more will be heard about many of their players in the future.
Sunday 6th September - Jack Lee Memorial Trophy Final - Aire Wharfe under 17s v Heavy Woollen under 17s at New Rover, Leeds.
This final was between the two runners up in the Joe Lumb county wide under 17 competition and what a competitive final it produced. Aire Wharfe batted and their opponents took the unusual step of opening with a spin bowler. This proved to be skipper Chris Holliday from Methley who proceeded to bowl unchanged throughout the innings with figures of 24=4=69-3.
Aire Wharfe totalled 178-7 with their captain Josh Atkinson of Otley top scoring on 47. George Ross of Burley scored 29 and was later to earn the man of the match award with bowling figures of 5-69.
It was always going to be a close finish and in fact it went to the very last ball with the last pair together. Heavy Wollen required two to win but a run out resulted and Aire Wharfe won by the narrowest of margins - just one run.
This was a splendid advert for junior cricket, well organized at a pleasant venue with lots of proud parents, grandparents and professional cricket watchers in attendance. Full marks to all concerned.
Monday 7th September - Yorkshire 2nd XI v Hampshire 2nd XI - Second XI Trophy semi-final at Headingley and Yorkshire area Bunbury under 13s schools final - The Grammar school at Leeds v Cundall Manor at New Rover, Leeds.
The long established county second eleven one day trophy has this year turned to coloured clothing for the first time, thus discouraging many professional cricket watchers from attending these 50 overs a side games. I must admit this was the first game in this competition I had seen apart from a short visit to Warwickshire v Leicestershire at Stratford upon Avon.
Yorkshire faced a strong challenge from a Hampshire side with a host of England under 19 players and several like Tremlett and Dawson, who have been regular first team performers.
Hampshire got off to a brisk start against the opening bowlers Lee and Hannon-Dolby, but just when a big score looked on the cards, wickets began to fall. When Azeem Rafiq dismissed South African opener Kleinvelt for 40 (top score of the innings), the tail collapsed with the last five wickets going down for 36 runs. Rafiq ended with figures of 10-1-33-5 - a splendid effort.
During the lunch interval a trip up the road to New Rover took in the under 13s final which proved to be a very one-sided affair. Much interest surrounded the appearance of James Botham for Cundall Manor school. He is the son of Liam Botham and grandson of Ian, who were both in attendance to watch the game.
Sadly for them and for young James, Cundall Manor chasing 125-9 to win were bowled out for only 31 and every batsman was clean bowled. It just wasn't their day and Grammar School at Leeds took the trophy. However as Dr Bernard Knowles, the Yorkshire schools cricket chairman, said at the presentations, 'you will have your good days and your bad days, but remember you beat some very good sides to get to the final'.
So back to Headingley to see how Yorkshire 2nd XI were progressing in their pursuit of 181 to beat Hampshire. Things were indeed going well and the prolific left hander Adam Lyth and wicketkeeper Simon Guy, in perhaps his last Headingley appearance, put Hampshire to the sword. Lythe with 52 and Guy 28 gave a great display of running between the wickets, but it was left to bowling hero Rafiq to see Yorkshire home by four wickets with six overs to spare.
So Yorkshire progress to the final where they will meet Lancashire on 21st September.
Wednesday 9th September - Durham v Nottinghamshire (Riverside, Chester-le-Street)
First day of Durham's last home championship match. A win or sufficient bonus points from a draw would give them the title for the second year running against Notts the team currently in second place.
For once the sun was shining all the way from Leeds on the pleasant train journey, a nice restful change from driving. Durham batted first were immediately in charge of the game, the unlikely opening pair of Tasmanian Di Venuto, who has an Italian passport, and Scotsman Koetzer batted for nearly all the day without any trouble at all.
Koetzer went off like a house on fire while Di Venuto was initally more cirumspect, but in face of some rather dismal Notts bowling Di Venuto then took charge and raced ahead with runs galore, particularly through mid-wicket and mid on. They eventually broke the championship first wicket partnership record for Durham, putting on 214 before Koetzer was run out.
The large crowd, basking in the sunshine, were lapping it up and misfortune after misfortune dogged Notts throughout the day. Captain and wicketkeeper Chris Read had to leave the field with a dislocated thumb, Charlie Shreck sustained a leg injury in the field and later in the day Mark Ealham was also injured. So even after only one day it seemed apparent that Durham had the championship tied up.
I did not return for the rest of the game, but my first day companian Brian Senior saw two more days including the grand finale when Durham were presented with the championship trophy to great rejoicing all round. Another great team performance with a good mixture of local talent and overseas expertise all pulling together in the same direction under father figure Geoff Cook, who has been there since Durham became a first class county not all that long ago.
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