Pannal beaters.

Posted by John Winn

Yesterday morning I made the short journey to Clifton Park where York were taking on Yorkshire Academy. Play was interrupted after half an hour by a heavy shower but the sun soon came out and only about twenty minutes were lost.A second wicket stand of 87 between Alex Lees and George Ross proved critical in the context of the match. I enjoyed a chat with Jenny and Molly before I left to return to Ouseburn where the home team were entertaining Pannal, top against second. The Academy were all out for 233 and to my great surprise when I saw the result this morning, York had been skittled by James Wainman and John Blain for 85, a resounding win for a very young academy side.
When I arrived at Ouseburn the home side were batting and one immediately sensed the importance of the game to both teams. Ouseburn had lost their unbeaten record last wek and Pannel came into the game on the back of two successive defeats and there was a distinct competitive edge to the game, but without any excessive needle. Fielders were on their toes, the pitch was hard and true with bounce and good carry to the keeper. Pannal's open bowlers operated at a good pace and even their less agile fielders were not afraid to get behind the ball on the very fast outfield. Jamie Bryant was Ouseburn's batting star for although runs came at five an over wickets fell at regular intervals as batsmen got in and then got themselves out, three of them victims to good catches in the deep. Jamie was sixth out for 72 and Ouseburn's innings closed on 234 for 8.
Over tea, opinions were divided as to whether this would be enough but the early dismissal of prolific runscorer Ellis by man of the match Bryant put Ouseburn on top and despite an unbeaten 82 not out by John Storer, Pannal closed on 175 for 8, 59 short. This result extended Ouseburn's lead at the top of the table and allowed Alne to slip into second place. There is still more than half the season to go, but Ouseburn's trip 'over the water' to Alne next Saturday is an enticing prospect.
Finally today it is pleasing to record that sanity may be returning to the game. A few weeks ago I read that Surrey intended to 'add a touch of glamour to an already crowd-pleasing format of the[20/20]game', by having 'walk-on girls' accompany the batsmen to the wicket in tomorrow's match against Essex. This was well after April the first and I have refrained from mentioning it in the company of other pcws for fear of inducing apoplexy. Gratifying to read therefore in today's paper that following protests from Surrey supporters the idea has been dropped.It beggars belief that there are people allowed anywhere near the game who seriously believe that such a gimmick could induce one single extra person to attend a match. The several hundred who will make their way to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday will do so in the hope that Yorkshire's second eleven batsmen will be able to get to the wicket unaided.