SIX FIFTIES IN EIGHT HOURS

B y Brian Sanderson,

Saturday was the final day of the Yorkshire and Derbyshire match at Headingley.If Yorkshire had a chance to win this match they had to take two wickets in the first fifty-five minutes.I was watching from the Trueman Stand and he would have been upset when Yorkshire open the bowling with two spinners and refusing the new ball. Wainwright and Groenewald were in no trouble and looked like Derbyshire would beat the following score of 280 however Wainwright ran himself out going for a second run after he had reached his fifty. He must have had a mental block to be run out and Derbyshire failed to beat the score of 280.
So Derbyshire had to bat again.Two quick fell to the bowling of Bresnan and lunch-time came.I had decided to leave Headingley to go to see a Yorkshire Central League match at Carlton.The reasoning behind it was that I thought Derbyshire would bat out the day for a draw.This happen with  Australian Khawaja scoring a unbeaten century.

Carlton is situated off the Leeds to Wakefield Road and  is in the middle of the rhubarb triangle  and there was a field next to the  pitch.Wrenthorpe were their opponents who were leading the league.They are very strong team which have been put to-gether with money and include three ex-first class players.
The field slopes down to the pavilion with a football pitch in the next field were a match was played during the afternoon.. There was views of the rhubarb factory also in the distance.Carlton had taken four wickets for sixty-eight in the twenty over when I arrived however in the second half Wrenthorpe took control.The following batsmen reached fifties ,Luke Patel, Eric Austin and Greg Batty who scored his in twenty-nine balls.One hugh six went out of the ground and hit one of the Carlton fielders car causing a dent in the bonnet but he took it in good humour.Wrenthorpe scored 268 in their fitty overs which would be too much for Carlton batsmen.This was the case but I had moved on to Methley.

The Methley ground is situated next to the Leeds to Castleford Road and is a flat ground with a excellent pavilion near the road.There is excellent parking on the football pitch which was not in use to-day. The opponents Townville had scored 228 in their fifty overs and Methley were batting when I arrived.A wicket soon fell to the bowling of Jack Hughes who is the cousin of  the Yorkshire Bresnan.Also one of  Townville opening bowlers was the brother of  Tim who was one of Wisden Players of 2012.Two Methley batsmen scored fifties Nicholas Connolly and Christopher Holliday.Christopher scored 73 in forty-seven bowls to help to win the match which finished just after seven.

So in eight hours cricket I saw six Fifties at three different venues which caused me to have another good day.