Tea at New Road

posted by John Winn

The visit of Essex to New Road gave me the second opportunity in a week to see one of my 'must see' matches for 2014. With the forecast suggesting the lovely weather at the end of last week might be breaking up I decided an overnight stay would increase my chances of watching cricket and so Monday morning saw me on the train from York, changing at New Street and arriving in Worcester in time to see play before lunch.

Essex were batting and during the course of the afternoon session Saeed Ajmal worked his wonders as the visitors were bowled out for 203, a first innings deficit of 88. This was smaller than seemed likely at the fall of the ninth but a last wicket stand of 38 between Graham Napier and Monty Panesar made things a little more respectable. Napier hit two sixes, one of which hit the fascia of the ladies' pavilion where I settled myself for the two days on a bench from which 'Ted and Doris had enjoyed the view' and who wouldn't, even though the developers have done their best to spoil it. Since I was last there a Premier Inn has appeared in one corner of the ground and even though it may guarantee Lenny Henry a good night's sleep it is more likely to give lovers of architecture insomnia.

 

My choice of seat was not by accident for like one's first visit to Lord's there is a rite of passage which should be on the county cricket lovers' wish list and that is to take tea in the delightful ladies' pavilion: the adjective applies to both. Customary practice is that tea is served at three and indeed on Monday a queue, which I was handily placed to join, began to form at quarter to, but not a morsel was served before the cathedral clock had chimed the third stroke. Fruit cake and Victoria sponge disposed of I settled down to see Worcestershire build on their lead but by the close they had lost eight for 105 with Panesar the chief wrecker, six for 8 off 14 overs.

An amusing interlude occurred in the evening session for with both Newby and Napier off the field there was a delay while some kit was found that would fit Chris Silverwood, assistant coach for Essex, and when he appeared to some ironic jeers it was clear that it had indeed been a tight fit. He had the good sense at one point to stand beside Jessie Ryder which put things into perspective.

Monty opened up proceedings yesterday as the cathedral chimed eleven and I noted that those of the nearby St Andrew's waited until their ecclesiastical senior had finished before striking up. The Pears added 15 to their overnight score setting Essex 209 to win. By lunch they had lost four wickets, 3 to Shantry and the remaining six went to Ajmal so that the game was over by three o'clock. The forecast had suggested that there was a chance of thundery showers but apart from a few spots these did not arrive in time to spoil the cricket. Showing admirable flexibility the ladies brought forward the magic hour to 2:30 and although the spread was slightly less extensive than Monday's it still was worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon it.

Essex's innings was brought to an unseemly end when Panesar heaved at his first delivery and fellow spinner Ajmal never looked likely to drop a caught and bowled. A Pears' member whose company I had enjoyed expressed his disgust at the shot and at the Essex innings in general pointing out that that was the third time in three matches this season that Worcestershire's opponents have shown little stomach for the fight in their second innings. Kent were defeated by 125 runs and Derbyshire by an innings and 64. I suggested that the same criticism could be made of Warwickshire's efforts at Headingley last week. For a Worcestershire man that appeared to offer some solace.

A feature of the match was the number of people missing: for Essex Topley, Mills and Masters are all injured and the opening attack was in the hands of loanee Tom Newby, now joining the wounded, and championship debutant Matt Salisbury who showed some gumption with the bat in a stand of fifty with Foakes that worried the New Road faithful for a while. For Worcestershire Gareth Andrew was absent and they will be concerned that Ajmal who had match figures of 13 for 94 will be away for six weeks in July and August when he will be with Pakistan, In the meantime they will enjoy their lead at the top of the second division and an advantage over Essex, who lie third, of 33 points.