Big win for Leeds/Bradford University

Posted by Tony Hutton

Friday 10th June - BUCS Premier Division - Leeds/Bradford MCC University v Exeter University at Weetwood, Leeds.

Confusion reigned yet again. The start time had been altered from the usual 12.30 in this competition to 11.00 to help Exeter with their complicated travel arrangements.
However, it appears that no one had told the umpires of this and with all the players ready and an eager crowd of almost double figures in position the men in white coats failed to appear.

By the time they did appear, hastily summoned by mobile phone,it had of course started to rain. The rain was not heavy, but persistent and gradually the small band of hardy spectators faded away for an early lunch or to seek entertainment elsewhere.

I returned about 13.30 just as the rain stopped and it was announced that play would start at 14.00 with overs only slightly reduced from 50 to 42 per side, with only a ten minute interval. Just as the players emerged Brian Sanderson turned up - he must have psychic powers, shortly followed by the venerable John Rex and Brian Senior, the four of us along with a couple of parents, forming the much reduced crowd.

It turned out to be well worth the wait as Leeds/Bradford started off like an express train against the bottom team in the one day league. Exeter's opening bowlers were really taken to the cleaners by Simon Barrett, who comes from Surrey, and Ben Slater from Derbyshire. They put on a hundred partnership in only ten overs.

Even when Slater was first out for 42 the carnage continued and Barrett, who made a big hundred for the University against Derbyshire earlier in the season, went merrily on his way to another century. His captain Moore enjoyed another big partnership and in fact batted through to the end of the innings with 80 not out. The scoring rate did drop somewhat against the spinners and the 300 target was just out of reach with the final score of 292-3 off 42 overs.

Exeter were never in the hunt against such a large target, and although Webb made a fighting fifty, the innings closed eventually at five minutes past seven by when it had got rather cold, for a modest 156-7. Rather an end of term feeling towards the end as some of the Leeds batsmen had a bowl with nothing at stake.

Exeter then had to drive up to Durham where they are playing tomorrow, in their rather cramped mini-bus, before setting off back tomorrow night for the very long trip from Durham to Exeter, which I understand involves an overnight stop about half way. It all seems a long way from the pampered life of first class cricketers.