Suddenly it's summer

posted by John Winn

You wait 174 days to see some cricket and then the next day you're almost spoilt for choice and to make things even better, after a long spell of cold easterly winds, it felt noticeably warmer than the day before.

I began my day with the short trip to Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club and their attractive Union Ground, situated behind the Union pub on Thistle Hill from the garden of which there are good views of the cricket. The occasion was  a friendly with Pontefract League outfit Knottingley CC, promoted to Division Two for 2013. Knaresborough Forest were founded in 1949 and were the dominant side in the Nidderdale League in the sixties and seventies, winning 16 championships in 27 seasons. Last season saw them occupy a mid table spot in Division Two. Next Sunday they will make the short journey to Easingwold for a preliminary round match in the National Club KO .Practice needed before then and considering the ground was under snow less than a fortnight ago it looked a treat in yesterday's sunshine as the home side batted first.

One of the Knaresborough opening bowlers showed early season rustiness with a mixture of high wides and wide highs in his first two overs  for which he profusely apologised before being rested.  Knottingley  made a steady enough start and did not lose a wicket during the half hour I watched. I took the opportunity to have a word with the groundsman who was fielding on the boundary and congratulated him on the transformation he had managed in little over a week.

I had intended to make my next stop at New Rover but unlike at  Knaresborough Forest, heavier snow had made it impossible to get the ground ready and they had cancelled the two friendlies arranged for this weekend. They are however hopeful of playing the two games fixed for next Saturday and Sunday and their website confirms that the Aire Wharf league will begin on Saturday April 20th, as planned.

On to Headingley arriving just in time to see Yorkshire begin their second innings after a slightly delayed lunch. As predicted the students had had a torrid time with the bat and had been bowled out for 118, a deficit of 123 to which Lees and Lyth steadily added throughout the afternoon's play. The second day crowd was noticeably smaller than Friday's but even more noticeable was that nearly all were sitting in the sunshine which was evident throughout most of the afternoon. The better prepared were applying their factor 30, thought to be a record north of the Trent for April.  The students fielded keenly but the Yorkshire openers were in little trouble and today Gale declared at 289 for 2 and the universities fared only a trifle better this afternoon being dismissed for 121 in the second innings. Plunkett with 6 for 33 staked  his claim for a place in Wednesday's XI to face Sussex . With Brooks capturing 3 wickets in the Leeds/Bradford first innings both the close season recruits will feel they have made a good start.

I left Headingley at tea and caught the commentary on the Grand National: the horse I held in the pub sweep resumes its employment with Steptoe and Son tomorrow. It was just a couple of minutes diversion on my route home to call again at KFCC to find  a small crowd had assembled soaking up the rays and some soaking up pints from the bar. Knottingley had managed 227 for 4 off 40 overs and Knaresborough were 50 for 2 off 18 in reply, a little behind the clock. I have not been able to find the result today but note KFCC have another 'warm up' next Saturday when they will visit Headingley CC with a 2:00 start. Another game of possible interest to pcws on Saturday is between York CC and Didsbury from Manchester. Alas the York website does not say whether it is at home or away. I have emailed the York Secretary for clarification and will post his response here before Saturday. Didsbury are members of the ECB Cheshire County Premier League and would be attractive visitors to Clifton Park. They finished eighth (out of twelve) last season.

Finally an announcement from the Central Yorkshire League that the  'week one' fixtures which have been postponed en bloc will now be played on May 11th with the cup ties arranged for that day put back twenty four hours to Sunday May 12th.