At our village annual summer BBQ on Saturday evening I chatted with Susan Parker, the rightly proud mother of Ouseburn CC's opening bats, Tom and Sam Parker. That afternoon I had watched the two lads lead Ouseburn's reply to Masham's 154 for 8. Tom made 47 and Sam 77 not out in a nine wicket win that keeps them 1 point behind Blubberhouses at the top of the Nidderdale Premier. Our conversation turned to Sunday and Ouseburn's Atkinson Swires Cup semi final away to Killinghall and Sue explained that Sam was on his way to Reading in connection with his work but would be back in time for cup match.
After watching the finish to the test match, and if the rest of the series matches it for tension even Joe Root will be looking for grey hairs, I travelled over to Killinghall with my fellow villager John Gawthrope. The ground there is an attractive one tucked away behind the village hall on Otley Road and when we arrived who should be leading an Ouseburn recovery but the much travelled but little rested Sam. Brother Tom had been an early victim along with number three Sam Dale but gradually stepping up the pace Sam went on to make 149 out of 257, the tenth wicket going down in the last of the forty overs.
I lost count of the number of sixes that Tom hit; into the gardens square of the wicket, into the car park by the entrance and into the field at the far end. I understand houses are to be built in this field which will detract from the ground's charms. If Sam is batting when they are occupied it would be advisable to check the small print of insurance policies.
Such a total was always likely to be too many for Killinghall and although they scored quite quickly they lost wickets and were six down when John and I left at 6:15, home in time to enjoy my usual Sunday evening sharpener and a warm glow coming up from the Nottingham area The final score was not available on the league website this morning but Sue confirmed by email that Killinghall had fallen short and the website later showed that this was by exactly 100 runs and so Ouseburn will go forward to the final at Newby Hall on August 4th against either Blubberhouses or Spofforth.
If Sam Parker can bat like that on one hour's sleep then skipper Chris Morrison might advise all his troops to have a late night before the big game.
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