Harrogate back on the national stage

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 22nd May - Harrogate v Stockton (ECB National Knock out)

It is quite a few years ago now since Harrogate went to Lord's for the final of this national competition. They were a very strong club in those days, although they lost in the final, but are now going through a re-building period both on and off the field.

The new pavilion is now partially in use, following the disastrous fire which destroyed the old building, remembered for many Yorkshire county games in the past.
However there is still a lot of builders fencing and debris around, with rather a lack of seating which will hopefully all be tidied up ready for the official opening of the new building next month.

On the field things are also looking up with captain Ryan Bradshaw able to call on such experienced campaigners as Alexis Twigg and Victor Craven among the batsman, and some very promising young bowlers who are growing in experience every week.

After beating Easingwold in the previous round of this competition, they faced strong opposition in the shape of Stockton from the North Yorkshire and South Durham League, with a ground used by Durham in their early days in the county championship.

The start was delayed by a heavy rain shower and the overs reduced from 45 to 40 per side. Harrogate batted first in the very windy conditions and put on a fifty partnership for the first wicket. When Twigg was out for 31, Pryor was joined by the former Yorkshire all rounder Victor Craven, back at his old home club.

Craven rapidly overhauled Pryor's score, with the opener content to play the sheet anchor role. Craven went on to a faultless century against some rather sloppy bowling towards the end of the innings. At the start of the last over the Harrogate score was 236-1 with Craven on 111. He then hit two sixes and a four before being bowled attempting another big hit for 127. Lindley then scored two before he was also out and the final score was a challenging 257-3.

Stockton started the chase well, putting on 68 for the first wicket. Opener Kevin Ward was then joined by captain Matthew Brown and they took the score to 144 before Brown was stumped off spinner Dan Craven for 42. Ward continued to score freely before he was caught for a splendid 76 off only 68 balls, including 13 fours and one six.

Two more Wards, Stephen and James, then continued to go for the runs, but when Stephen was bowled by Rob Stanworth for 35, the game turned rapidly towards Harrogate. From 191-3 Stockton subsided to 199-8, mainly due to Stanworth who took four more wickets quickly to destroy the middle order. Some late hitting took the visitors to 230 all out in the 38th over and rather spoiled Stanworth's figures, but he remained the match winner with 5-63 and Harrogate won by 27 runs.

As I understand it, Harrogate will now play Chester-le-Street, who surprisingly beat York yesterday, in the next round on June 19th, hopefully at home again. Unfortunately the final is no longer held at Lord's, and saying 'we're on our way to Derby' hasn't got quite the same ring about it.