Some enchanted evening

Posted by John Winn

If you wanted to try and demonstrate to a sceptic what is so special about cricket then it might not have been a bad idea to take them to Newburgh Priory on Wednesday evening. The weather was perfect, the setting likewise, with a Jacobean house as the backdrop surrounded by trees in their best early summer colours and ,oh yes, a lake just beyond the boundary. The match was a Pilmoor Evening League Division One fixture between Newburgh and Sheriff Hutton Bridge. The cricket was a little rustic with several lusty blows and a comical run out as SHB made good progress. Having made a fruitless journey last year it was a delight to see cricket played there on such a perfect evening. If you can spare the time ( and petrol), the next home game is against local rivals Crayke on May 25th.
From Newburgh I made the relatively short journey to Sheriff Hutton, not to be confused with Sheriff Hutton Bridge, where 'the castlemen' were entertaining Raskelf. Sheriff Hutton get their nickname from the proximity of their ground to the ruined fourteenth century castle. On arrival the home side were just beginning their response to Raskelf's total of 113. After a slow start the pace quickened and although I left before the end I would be surprised if they did not reach their target. The ground is particularly well appointed, having been voted second best ground in the York League in 2009. On a noticeboard outside the pavilion there were detailed accounts of the club's matches so far this season with league tables attached. A nice touch and evidence that somebody really cares.

On Thursday I was at Headingley early before the gates opened. Of course I was looking forward to the cricket but the early attraction was the YCCSA breakfast in the Legends' bar in the old pavilion. The morning's cricket was mainly notable for what did not happen. Bresnan did not get his century, Shahzad did not get his fifty, Yorkshire did not get the fourth batting point and Hampshire did not get a third bowling point. This series of events that did not happen did not stir the blood on a cold windy morning with several interruptions for short showers. All this engendered a degree of negativity among the members who began to doubt the wisdom of Yorkshire bothering to bat at all. 'Declare and get them in' became the mantra but Yorkshire continued after lunch, taken slightly early because of rain, until they were out for 355. The bright spot being another useful contribution from Sidebottom.
When Hampshire batted things got no better, it continued cold, windy and showery, with little of interest in the middle.During one of the interruptions I enjoyed a good chat with fellow blogger Brian Sanderson who was considering whether to take in some Evening League cricket in Leeds. For me the alternative of a concert in the town hall given by The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain seemed a better bet and the rapturous full house audience would take some persuading that I was wrong. One of Brian's friends predicted that Yorkshire would get three more wickets before the close, nearly right, they got four.