The only way is Essex

Towards teatime on Sunday I slipped over to Harrogate where Yorkshire Ladies were taking on their Essex counterparts. Somewhat to my shame I must admit this was the first time I have seen women's cricket other than on TV but with Harrogate now the HQ of Yorkshire women's cricket there is no excuse for not including it in my future cricket watching. This coming Sunday for example they entertain Somerset and on Monday Sussex come to town.
When I arrived Yorkshire were making good progress towards overhauling the Essex score of 230 with 130 for 3 on the board and Jessica Watson and Danielle Hazel in a fourth wicket stand that eventually took the score to 184 before Hazel was dismissed for 35 at which point panic set in and what had appeared to be comfortable victory was thrown away in a fusillade of rash strokes, skied catches, run outs, stumpings, three ducks and general disbelief amongst the Yorkshire supporters. 189 for 4 became 202 for 9 with Watson out for 91.
At the fall of the ninth wicket those who had been present during the Essex innings were inclined to think the game was over for Yorkshire's wicketkeeper Lauren Winfield had earlier sustained an injury to her arm which had necessitated a visit to Harrogate District and General and she was not expected to bat. Fear not, for in the manner of Colin Cowdrey Lauren strode to the crease and with the use of one hand, and amidst  mounting excitement struck a boundary and a partnership with Laura Spragg brought the home side within 16 runs of their target before wicketkeeper Onojaife hung onto a skier to close an exciting game.

Today I have been close to cricket heaven for I have spent six hours at one of the most beautiful cricket locations, Ampleforth College, on a perfect English summer's day in the company of many similarly minded cricket loving friends including Tony and Diana Hutton, Brian Sanderson and David Thorpe.The focus of attention was the match between the Yorkshire and Northumberland Under 15 elevens. It would perhaps be uncharitable to say that the cricket did not quite match the setting but Yorkshire proved much too storng for their opponents whose batsmen could not cope with either the pace or spin of the home attack, but in the end, when shortly after half past five the last Northumbrian was dismissed and I drove home through an area which is truly of 'outstanding natural beauty' I was not worried about slow over rates, noisy fielders or any of the other irritants of contemporary cricket that the younger generation have adopted. I was just happy that I had spent a day in such surroundings and in temperatures so much in contrast with last Monday at Marske.