Foxes pipped

 

posted by John Winn

 

 

The prospect of yet more settled weather attracted a good attendance of pcws to Darlington yesterday and I recognised faces representative of the region from the River Tyne in the north to the Don Valley in the south. The visitors for the first of four days second eleven cricket were Leicestershire  and yesterday's fare was a forty over pink ball SET game.

The team sheet showed a number of written in  changes  and there were three names unfamiliar to the South Terrace think tank. Wicketkeeper was Stuart Poynter who last year represented MCC Young Cricketers in the competition and who despite being born in London, earlier this month played for Ireland against the Netherlands. The other two 'unknowns' were  Parker and Foster.

Leicestershire won the toss and Durham were given first knock and Clark and Jennings set off at a good pace but it was not long before there was some loosening of the wheel nuts with a couple of run outs contributing to the loss of five wickets and the possibility that lunch might be taken early. This last point did not appear too distressing for some. The innings was rescued by good partnerships between firstly  Poynter and Ireland and then Poynter and Parker and closed on 188 for 8.

The inestimable Sue had provided the usual excellent spread, declared by Brian Senior to be ' the best in England' and on being questioned the doyen of cricket teas extended this to include the Isle of Man. High praise indeed so imagine my delight when, with my friends Michael Taylerson and Peter Sixsmith Sue called me to the head of the queue brushing aside some whippersnappers who seemingly had not recognised the precedence of seniority in these matters.

Replete, and some more replete than others, we resumed our seats for the start of the Foxes' reply. Like Durham, the visitors lost early wickets and were 33 for 3 at one point. Having to leave to catch my train at five o'clock I am grateful to Richie Hilton for posting the result on twitter which shows a three run win for Durham with Andy Ireland taking 4 for 42.

The two teams will start a three day SEC game today but for the first time in three weeks rain may well stop play at some point. I shall be Herefordshire bound still hoping that the Herefordshire Cricket Board will disclose the venue for their Under 17s game with Norway Under 19s.