Norway triumph in Essex

Posted by John Winn

The ICC European T20 competition was completed on Thursday at its Essex venues. There were further wins for Norway, against Gibralter and Germany, thus completing a clean sweep, for Belgium against Germany and Austria, for Austria v Isle of Man and for Gibralter v Isle of Man

Thus Norway were crowned champions with five wins out of five and will be promoted to Division 1 while Germany will be relegated. In the top division Norway's opponents will be Denmark, France Guernsey, Italy and Germany. The tournament will be played in 2015 at a date and venue to be decided. The winners will go forward to play in the World Cup T20 qualifier in Ireland and Scotland also in 2015.

Should you find these tournaments of interest then go to icc-Europe.org where you will find the dates for those to be played later in the year. These include age group and women's competitions.

Also if you are fluent in Norwegian then go to Cricket Norway where you can read about their triumph. If your skills in that language are a bit rusty there are lots of pictures.

BACK TO ADEL

By Brian Sanderson,

I left Adel yesterday evening with their second team going on to win. Their first team  also won at Harden with the help of C.Rowley scoring over 140 runs.Looking at the Wetherby League web-site St. Chads were playing a cup tie stating at 1.30 so I thought I would start at that match. Arriving about 12.45 the club houses was beeing locked after a junior match so it looked at the match would not be played to day. Opposite the field was a party been set up for the Tour de France so that must be the reason no match was on but why could that not put the reason on the League website or the club site.

So I arrived at Adel early allowing me to read the Sunday paper and watch the players of both sides doing their warm up exercises an hour before the match. The match was a quarter final  of the Waddilow Cup between Adel in the second division of the Airedale and Wharfedale League and Addingham of the third division.The above photograph is of the toss with Adel bowling.

I sat down with Tony Hutton and Reg   Parker so the conversation during the match was interesting. In the second over Addingham opening bat gave a gently catch to Adel fielder in the covers.In walked in J.Johnson who I found out from his father learnt his cricket at Radlett School where Strauss was also taught. He also plays for IIkley Rugby Union on the wing in the first team so he does not play many cricket matches and had starttd pre season training for Ilkley. However today was his day and hit everthing in the middle of the bat.

With the other opening bat that put on over 140 runs in good time.When the opening bat was out the score was 146 with seventeen overs to bowl and thoughts of total over 250 was talked about.Johnson was 90 at this stage and went on to score a century beforeing getting caught on the boundary edge.

This a photograph  is of him just after  been caught out.Addingham managed to get to 232 in the forty-five overs but if Johnson had stopped the total would have been higher. The Addingham captain mention the total of 150 as a good total so he must have been very happy at tea.

Adel opener Rowley shown he was in good form after yesterday but chased a wide ball and was caught brillently in the slips. Addingham were on top at this stage.

Just as I left Adel had scored 64 in fifteen overs with one opener 9 not out.So Adel had a fight on their hands and I can not find the result at this moment as this match is the only quater final match not on live scores so will have to wait till to-morrow.

400 miles for 20 balls

posted by John Winn

When, in early April, I booked my train tickets for yesterday's trip to The Oval it never occurred to me that wickets would be pitched other than at eleven o'clock, but because, unlike young offenders, Surrey and Hampshire had gone to bed after 10:30 on Friday night, the championship game between the two sides could not start until noon. All of which explains why, taking advantage of a member's guest pass kindly supplied by my friend Steve Marchant,, I walked into the members' pavilion there were still 90 minutes before I would see the one ball needed to tick off match 146 in my pursuit of membership of the 153 club*.

In the event I had to wait much longer for shortly after eleven it began to rain, the full covers were brought out and I recalled a visit I made to the same ground two seasons ago when there was a complete washout. While I waited there was much to occupy my time: a good selection of newspapers in The Long Room, a small but interesting museum and a comprehensive library and when Steve arrived at 11:30, plenty of chat about cricket. The umpires inspected at 12:15 by which time the rain had stopped and it was announced that lunch would be taken at 1:30. We were left to assume that play would therefore begin at 2:10 but although there was some blue sky there was plenty of the other sort and the threat of a wasted journey was by no means over.

Steve suggested various ways of passing the time and we enjoyed a walk through a nearby multi cultural market before taking our seats in the sunshine at The Vauxhall end. Messrs Gale and Kettleborough must have sensed my anxiety for play actually began at 2:07 with Surrey batting. Three overs and two balls were bowled before the rain returned, 20 balls in which Surrey lost the wicket of Ansari, four runs were scored and I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that by my rules at least the job was done. And that was it. We repaired to the pavilion, found a small bar where we could watch Notts vYorks on TV, and where we joined by two friends of Steve whose globetrotting cricket watching puts my efforts not so much in the shade but in the complete dark. 'Didn't we meet in Mumbai?' or 'Do you remember Mark Saggers getting wickets in Chittagong?', beats 'I was at Weetwood when the sun shone' into a cocked  hat. Nevertheless it proved an excellent diversion from watching the rain fall on the covers, somehow made worse by the light from the floodlights and horror of horrors, Wimbledon on the big screen. If play stops at the tennis will they show replays of the Headingley test?

Play did eventually resume and by stumps 26 overs had been bowled but by then I was safe in the arms of East Coast trains which saw me back in York by 8:30, disappointed of course that I had seen so little cricket but able to satisfy myself, if not others, that I have now seen Surrey play all other 17 counties, a journey which has taken me to 11 different grounds and which began at Guildford in 1991 when Yorkshire were the visitors and Surrey won by 1 wicket with two balls to spare. Were you there too?

*I have no idea whether such a club exists which means for the time being at least I make the rules.

WATCHING CRICKET IN THE RAIN AND COLD IN JUNE

By Brian Sanderson,

Looking at the weather forecast I thought Harrogate would be the drier area to watch cricket to-day.Arriving at the ground the rain was falling and the adverts for the Tour de France next week on the Childrens play area. Yorkshire Academy were playing Harrogate  but play was delayed for thirty minutes because of the rain. We watched the cricket from the new pavilion but the railings made it very difficult to see the match also it was cold so we transfered to the car.

Harrogate won the toss and put in very young Academy side no Rashid or Rafiq as last week.After fifteen overs Yorkshire had lost three wickets but the side have useful  batters in the lower order. Whilst this match was been played on the second pitch the Harrogate thirds were playing Darley seconds in the Nidderdale League.

The home side was batting first on a small ground. Darley opening bowler in his four balls bowled three wides so they did not start very well.Leaving the ground Yorkshire had not lost any more wickets with Thompson and Ryan Gibson batting well. When I arrived home the Academy had scored 315 for 9 in fifty -five overs and then bowled Harrogate for 42 in 19.1 overs. Harrogate were third in the league up till today with  Yorkshire second. It just shows the standard of the league.

Moving on about a mile and half we visited Pannal Ash,s ground which is a new ground for me.The club was established in about 1852 but today Beckwithshaw thirds were playing Galphay and Winksley seconds  on the ground.The match was in the nineth division of the Nidderdale Cricket league.The pavilion is very run down  and looked as no loving care had taken place for some years.The home side had a thirteen  and fouteen year old bowlers playing.

Looking at the photograph it looks very idyllic but on a cold and wet day it did not seem that way.Moving on half a mile we watched Beckwithshaw first team against Kirkstall Educational in the Airedale and Wharfedale League.The home side were batting against a weaken Kirkstall side  due to people taking time off for stag do,s.I talked to Dave Hodgson the Kirkstall President and said this morning at one stage the second team had only seven men.Looking at the computor now the home side scored 299 for 3  in fifty overs.

Another comment by Dave was that local cricket is changing very fast and not for the better.Moving on to the fifth ground which is situated off the Leeds to Harrogate road and is called Almsford Oval. The match been played there was Knaresborough Forest Thirds against Bedale Seconds in the 8 th division of the Nidderdale league. It is not the easiest ground to found as it is down a small lane and  the local,s had put notices up to stop people parking in the street.Bedale were batting quite slowly on a large field.

There was a school fete going on in the school field behind  the bowlers arm. The changing rooms are boarded up to stop vandels.A ground you would only visit once. Moving on quickly to the Weeton and Huby ground were Ron Stansfield had played on the 1960,s when Yorkshire Bank played friendly cricket.
To-day Pannal fourth,s were batting against Dacre Bank seconds.

I had a walk round the ground and spoke to Dacre Bank player who said he played on this ground two years ago when the sun was shining and it looked very good then but with the rain it looked very dark. So impressions of grounds can change with the weather conditions.The match was in the seventh division of the Nidderdale League. Moving on two miles we called in to Pool ground were they were playing Harden seconds.The first thing I  noticed was a new scoreboard together with a new changing rooms for the football.
The scoreboard said Harden had been bowled out for sixty so the match was over by just after four o ,clock.

Moving on a mile we called in to Arthington which we usual visit at the end of September for the cricket festival. To-day they were playing Sharow seconds in the sixth division of the Nidderdale league.The away side were batting after a rain delay and the rain still falling.It is usually warmer in September than it was to-day.

It is always good to visit the ground and found Denis Nash   the seventy year opening bowler not playing which was a disappointing.However we were able to have a cup of tea  supplied by his wife.Next ground we visited was Adel were their seconds were playing Burley seconds.It was so cold that the few spectators were sitting in the pavilion to try and get a bit warmer.Burley had batted and scored 173 and Adel were batting well with still another thirty-three overs to bowl.

The ground is situated next to a Norman church which was buitlt in 1150-1170 and has been little altered since. My dinner was calling but I had chance to call into the Bedquilts ground just off Church Lane Adel. To my surprise Cookeridge third team were playing Baildon seconds in the Dales Council Cricket League division C.Scoring in this match was Barry Foster who wrote the book "Cricket in the Dales "  which is a celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the League.He has a spercial attachment to the Dales Council ,playing in the league in the each of the last six decades with nine different clubs .Along the way he has claimed over 1,200 wickets.

A cold day but still met so very interesting people and seen some cricket. See what tomorrow brings.

A trip to Teesdale

posted by John Winn

Middeton in Teesdale CC, hosts of yesterday's game between Durham Under 15s and their Cumbria counterparts, shares its grounds with those of the local primary school and by the time I had found the vehicle entrance I missed the call of play at 11:00. I had barely settled in my seat before the Durham skipper, Tom Hewison, who opens regularly for Stockton in the North East Premier League, was back in the dressing room.

Middleton are members of the Darlington and District League and the motivation for yesterday's trip was that it is one of the few grounds in that competition that I have not visited. They finished fourth in Division A last year but so far this campaign are winless and propping up the table. The local Teesdale Mercury described how they had lost narrowly to local rivals Barningham last week. The paper gives good coverage of local cricket for as well as a comprehensive survey of the D and D they also report on Barnard Castle's matches in the NYSD and Evenwood in the Durham Cricket League.

The ground has a large very well maintained playing area although these two chaps, unlike Ol' Man River are no longer rollin' along.

The pavilion is of traditional wooden construction and design, although the dressing rooms are legacy of an era when one cricket bag served an XI, not quite up to muster when it is asked to find room for eleven bags of that size.

 

After the early loss of their skipper Durham recovered well through a stand of 126 between Josh O'Brien and Ross Greenwell. O'Brien made 50 and Greenwell 84. Durham were bowled out for 233 with just two balls of their 50 overs left. Tom Hewison's father, with whom I enjoyed conversation, felt that having seen Cumbria play against Cleveland recently that would be a winning score. Top man with the ball was James McGown who took 3 for 17 off his ten overs.

 

Cumbria's reply was held together by A Grunshaw of the Ulverston club who made 71 but when he was sixth out Jake Louth mopped up the tail to finish with 5 for 43 and the visitors fell 15 short. Impressive for Durham was spinner Haida Shafiq from Cleveland who took 2 for 27 off his ten overs. A disappointing feature of the bowling of both sides was the number of wides with 37 runs being given up this way and one felt sorry for both wicketkeepers.

 

An enjoyable afternoon in pleasantly warm conditions watching a game played in good spirit. For pcws fancying a trip, Middleton is about a thirty minute drive from Scotch Corner and could easily be combined with a visit to the Barningham, Barnard Castle, Raby Castle and Evenwood clubs. Despite a diversion on the way home caused by an accident which closed the A66 just west of Scotch Corner, I felt I had made the right call for proceedings at The Riverside lasted just 11 minutes in which 17 deliveries were bowled, nine runs scored and Rushworth took the outstanding Sussex wicket. Speaking to a friend in Sussex last night he told me that the local Brighton paper, The Argus, has even mentioned the 'r' word after a run of 8 games without a win for The Martlets sees them in seventh place in the championship table, just two points above Lancashire.  

THIRD DAY OF THE TRIP AND SEEING YORKSHIRE WINNING. WHAT COULD BE BETTER ?

By Brian Sanderson,

On the third day of the tour we drove to the stadium known as Edgbastion which was a great contrast to the last two grounds we had visited. Yorkshire innings had finished  yesterday with a lead of 194. We were able to obtain the signatures of Karl Carver, for his first team debut and Aaron Finch first his century yesterday.

It was the first time I had watched cricket in the stadium as yet is not a as thin a cricket should be. As the above photograph shows the differnce to Usk and Shifnal we visited in the last two days.

We sat with three Warwickshire members who were also interested in cricket memobillia so the conversation was interesting.Warwick soon lost two wickets  and was left to Porterfield and Hain to steady the ship. William Porterfield learnt his cricket at Leeds Met but was born in Londonderry Northern Ireland.Samuel Hain was born in Hong Kong but learnt his cricket in Queensland. I understand he has not yet decided wether he wants to play for England or Australia.At lunch they were 68 for 3.

During lunch time I was able to look into the Museum which has great number of items to look at and would take me about half a day to study all the items so today I just had a chance to have quick look before play started again.By tea time the score was 158 for 8 with Lyth taking two stunning catches and Patterson taking  a great one handed caught and bowl.

Thoughts then turn to when the match would finish to beat the Birmiingham traffic.The match was all over by 4.30 with Carver taking two wickets which was good to see from a young spin bowler.Yorkshire took the maximum of 24 points after completing their fourth Championship win of the season.

This is a photgraph of Yorshire celebrating their victory. On the way back to Leeds we listen to the Test Match with England struggling to hold out for a draw. Just before Leeds Anderson was out and I switched the radio off.

A great three days of sunshine and cricket. I would recommend Minor League cricet on cricket grounds not stadiums.

TWO EXYORKSHIRE PLAYERS TO WATCH.

By Brian Sanderson,

On the second day of our trip we went to see Shropshire against Herefordshire on the second day at Shifnal.The market town is about three miles east of Telford . It is on the Shrewsbury -Wolverhampton railway line which runs next to the ground.Also next to the ground is the busy A464 road which makes it very difficult to get out of the ground.On the Sunday Herefordshire had been bowled out for 152 with Ben Sanderson and Randhawa taking seven wickets. Both players had been released by Yorkshire last season and were now playing for Shropshire. Shropshire had been bowled out for 143 with Randhawa scoring 24 when he opened the innings.

We arrived at the ground when Herefordshire lost the wicket of Patel when the score was 49 for 2.Again we had to sit in the shade to watch mainly Sanderson and Randhawa bowl ing between them 61 overs.Sanderson bowls right arm medium and now plays for Rotherham in the Yorkshire E.C.B. league while Randhawa plays for Ossett in the Central Yorkshire league. He bowl left srm spin and gives the  bowl a chance to spin. Last season he had been hit for 36 in one over at Scarborough in a Yorshire second team match against Lancashire.

At lunchtime I was able to go into the new pavilion and there is timeline about the history of the club together with some interesting cricket memorabillia. After lunch Randwaha bowled unchanged  bowling in the end they had scored 146 runs of him in 43 overs but took 5 wickets.

This is a photograph of him coming off the pitch looking tired understandable.We were able to talk to Alan Evans , a Shropshire player who was playing his first match and he was 35 which was a contrast to yesterday when the welsh lad was 16.Eventually Herefordshire declared on 364 for 9  with a lead of 355.

Shropshire batted  and soon lost a wicket but at the end of the day they were  67 for 1 with Evans 23 not out.When we were at Egbaston yesterday Shropshire were bowled out for 113 in about an hour  so losing by 260 runs with Evans LB.W in the first over for 23 whilst Randwaha scored 10  and Sanderson 0.

It was good to see them again and to see them still playing cricket at a reasonable level.

WATCHING CRICKET IN USK

By Brian Sanderson,

Myself  and Brian Workman had planned about six weeks ago to have  a three day holiday watching cricket in three differenr grounds. I picked Brian up about 8.00 A.M on Sunday and arrived at Usk just as the players were going out. Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, south -west Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.I had watched cricket at Cardiff and Colwyn Bay but most of the time it had been raining. Today the sun was shining and we had to watch the cricket in the shade.

As you can see from the sign on the new pavilion the club was established in 1857 and today,s match was between Wales Minor County Unicorn Championship X1  against Berkshire CCC. Wales won the toss and batted but soon losing two wickets.When we had pitched our chairs we found we were sitting next to the father of Kiran Carlson who was batting at number 4 in his first Championship match  aged 16.He put on a 104 partnreship with  Dion Holden before being run out for 47 on the last ball of the morning season.

After a walk into the town past the prison we settled down to watch the afternoon session. In the heat the bowler struggled but tried very hard  with Robert Williams and Tom Nugent being the best bowlers. We were entertained by Aneurin Norman who hit 11 fours and 2 six,s for his 87.There was a left arm bowler for Berkshire called Gurveer Singh with a nicname of Monty. Brian had played for Berkshire in the 1970,s and was able to talk to a player who he played with.Next to were I was sitting was a spectator who watched  Bradford League cricket so we had a chance to talk about different grounds we both and visited.

At tea time I had a word with Waqas Hussain who had bowled a few overs  and looked very tired. His comment he was getting to old for rthis game and found out later he was only 21.On the television wa the Test match which was in the third day  at Headingley. I made a comment to a local person to say the match could enter in a draw  and he said no chance. We heard later that night twenty one wickets had fallen at Shifnal our next ground to visit tomorrow.

Outside the ground was a garden which is shown in the above photograph and is now winning the this season prize of the best garden next to a cricket ground. Berkshire were bowled out for 153. Wales batted again and scored 264 with Kiran scored 3.The Berkshire hung on to score 190 for 7 in 98.4 overs so a drawn match. A great day in sunshine and good company. Two days to go so see next blogs.

A change of plans

posted by John Winn

When I left The Riverside shortly before 5:00 yesterday I fully expected to be back there this morning, 'bye, see you tomorrow' was my departing call for Sussex had begun an untroubled start to the task of chasing down their target of almost 500 to win. The light was as good as it had been all day and Nash and Wells
 looked comfortable, but by the time I reached Durham station Stokes had been introduced into the attack and for the second time in the match Wells edged to Mustard who played pass the parcel with Borthwick who safely pouched the rebound. 30 for 1 and as further wickets fell I was forced to consider what would be sufficient enticement to get me to return today. 'If they are only four down, I will definitely go, five probably but not if Durham only need another four wickets' was my hastily constructed rule of thumb. With Hastings joining Stokes in the attack wickets continued to fall so that by the time I got home it was 119 for 6 and when at 124 Wright, who had been the only Sussex batsman to prosper in the first innings, found the safe hands of Muchall in the deep the need to find alternative entertainment today became paramount.

When the extra half hour was taken two wickets were still needed, one of which fell in the first extra over but at stumps the well known firm of solicitors Treadwell and Hatchett were still there and will return to the crease at eleven today, together of course with the Durham team, umpires and scorers. A skeleton catering staff and no doubt some spectators will also be there for what might be one ball and for what might be history should Sussex win or draw the match.

My wife, when informed of this rather absurd situation, suggested that in order to cut back on the Martlets' expenses the main body of their party could travel home in their coach yesterday evening leaving the two surviving batsmen to follow by train sooner or later today. A simple pragmatic solution and one with which the Sussex treasurer might well have agreed but could the Hove  two be left in this situation? They will of course need somebody to supervise their warm up this morning, somebody to give them 'a net' before play and should their partnership prosper, somebody to take them a drink to the middle. And as for the idea that the modern cricketers kit bags would fit in Trans Pennine's luggage racks.......forget it.

Had there been alternative cricket in the Wearside area then I might have considered the journey but have opted instead for a trip to Middleton in Teesdale where Durham U15 take on their Cumbrian counterparts. A pleasant drive on what promises to be a fine day.

A couple of weeks ago I drew readers' attention to the ICC European Division B T20 competition being held at three venues in Essex this week and after two days, results have been such as to give Norway 3 wins out of three, two victories each for Belgium and Austria and one for Isle of Man and Gibralter. Germany are the only team without a victory. Play resumes at 11:00 on Thursday.

Three leagues in BD10

posted by John Winn

After a day of football chants, fancy dress, slow over rates and resisting a variety of attempts to get more than the price of the ticket out of my pocket, yes you've guessed right I was at Headingley on Friday, I sought quieter pastures yesterday with a trip to Bradford, in particular the BD10 postcode area.

To be fair Friday had its consolations: the sun shone, Plunkett continued a revival that would have been unthinkable eighteen months ago and Broad became only the second man to take two hat tricks in test cricket and Tattersall made more appearances than I could count. If he wasn't doing the old fashioned bit i.e. covering for absent fielders he was kept busy with the Lucozade run with its statutory requirement of high visibility jacket, and probably set a record when he ran on four times in nine balls as Broad and Plunkett blew away most of Sri Lanka's tail. But one day a year is enough of such heady excitement and yesterday's outing provided a nice restorative.

First call, and not easy to find surrounded as it is by bungalows,
was Bolton Villas for their match with Green Lane in Div 2 of the Aire Wharfe League. The All Alone Road ground is as neatly maintained as its neighbours' gardens, and when I arrived the visitors from Leeds were making good progress at 100 for 2 off 20 overs. An unpopular lbw (with the batsman that is) tilted things back towards the home side and shortly after reaching his 50 Mick Garrod was caught and bowled to make it four down.

 After half an hour's watching, Sat Nav took me out of the maze of streets and the short distance to Idle and the Westfield Lane ground of Cambing* CC. Here the fare was Bradford Mutual Sunday School League Div 1 with visitors Interlink. This is grassroots cricket although in places the grass has not really taken root and some of the money Waitrose donates to this form of cricket every time a boundary is struck in the test match could benefit this ground. The changing facilities are basic, probably a response to an arson attack the club suffered in 2006, and although the playing area is large the square is very small. Interlink, the visitors were batting and although the club historian, an 'old man' of 43, was at the crease I did get some of the club's history from his younger colleagues. The club is long established, although if 43 is old then what is long established, folded in 2000 but was reformed about four years ago and is doing well in the league. Go on You Tube and there is a short film about the club's early days. When I left the historian was leading a recovery with some fine shots off his legs which raced away down the slope towards Apperley Bridge.

 

Cambing CC

My next journey was even shorter than the last for just a couple of hundred yards up the road is the ground of Hepworth and Idle CC, so short that I arrived a week early for the beer festival. Third ground of the afternoon and third league for here it was Craven League and the Lancastrian visitors were from Barrowford: H and I I v Barrowford II, the two bottom teams in Div 2. Hepworth were struggling at 36 for 5 off 18 but had raised this to 61 for 5 when I left for a return to the Aire Wharfe and a Div 2 match between Thackley and Tong Park.

 

Tea time here with Thackley having been bowled out for 193 and after a cup of tea I took a seat near the scoreboard to watch Tong Park begin their reply. The home side were champions in 2011 but now find themselves bottom of Div 2 although I suspect their chirping can still be heard in the higher division .The constant noise was some of the worst of its kind and when the first dismissal was strongly contested by the batsman, looked out to me but not the Tong Park supporter and certainly not the departing opener, I decided that it was time to go. Pity because it was a pleasant warm afternoon but despite the good cup of tea I left with an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Just two ground left in the A-W now, Tong Park and Illingworth, be nice to tick them off by the end of the season.

 

Tong Park opener takes guard

 

* Cambridge Place (1912) merged with Bingley Road (1938) in 1996. I wonder if anybody suggested Bing Place and what if Bingley Road had merged with Crosby?

MAINLY HALIFAX LEAGUE CLUBS

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny Saturday morning I left the Test Match behind at Headingley and travelled a couple of miles to see my first match which was between Yorkshire Academy and Cleethorpes.Tony Hutton  and Jenny were already there watching the players warm up. To our surprise the spin twins Rafiq and Rashid were playing which would have not pleased Cleethorpes.Cleethorpes overseas pl;ayer took two wickets in two balls to shock the ten spectators watching the match. Rafiq was one of the wickets caught at slip and that is cricket.However time to see clubs I have not visited in the Halifax League . Peter Davies has just recently issued a excellent book on the history of the league.

The photograph above is of Rafiq walking off the pitch after been out.One photograph that I have admired for a few years was taken by Tony Hutton  of Park Avenue Bradford  cricket ground and I wanted to take one myself. Today I was able to do and is on the beginning of the blog.The last time I visited the ground was for Championship match between Yorkshire and Leicestershire in 1996 which was the final  first class match on the ground.Today Wibsey Park Chapel second team were playing Outland seconds on the ground.There were two spectators plus ourselves quite a contrast to tthe first class match.There are still some seats about but the grand pavilion has been closed down.

These two teams are in the Halifax League and after lunch we moved on to Queensbury ground. I played on the old Queensbury ground over twenty five years ago but that has been built on and a new ground has been formed on the outskits of the area.Their  seconds were playing Denholme Clough seconds with the home team batting. There are great views across the valley and this is the highest league ground in England.

I really enjoy watching cricket with great views from the ground. Because a lot of the Halifax grounds are in the hills so  you can see for miles.This ground is quite a contrast to Park Avenue as there was a good crowd and plenty of modern seats and a electric scoreboard.The next ground was not on the schedule but passed in error so we called in to watch Bradshaw were playing Warley. Another neat ground with good views of the moors.

The home side were batting and struggling with the talk from the locals that the side would be relegated at the end of the season.On a beautiful Saturday afternoon it was grat to be able to see cricket in these surroundings.Moving back towards Bradford we went to see Jer Lane play Thornton. Jer Lane are top of the first division and one of their players scored a century while we were watching.The ground is surrounded by houses with British flag still outside their grounds eventhough England were out of the World Cup. Maybe the press may concentrate on England,s summer game now or maybe not.

The final ground we visited today was Buttershaw St. Peter,s who were playing Northowram in the Yorkshire Council League.The ground is very close to Odsal but it has houses on one side and trees on the other. It seems a very friendly club and we were able to obtain a good cup of tea while watching the home side bowl.They had scored 193  in their fifty overs but had only taken one wicket when  we left so that  I  could beat the Test Match crowds.

When I reached home I found that Yorkshire Academy had scored 239 for 7 and the Rashid had taken six wickets for 21 so bowling Cleethorpes out for 117.Tomorrow I am travelling down to see some Minor County cricket at Usk and Shifnal  over the next two days. Then hopefully calling into Edgbaston on Tuesday see Yorshire playing and winning.Report to follow .

FAVERSHAM EVENING LEAGUE AT ITS BEST

By Brian Sanderson,

While John was watching a thrilling finish in Durham , Myself and Ron Deaton set off to watch Gillamoor against Spout Houses in the Faversham league. The league has been to reduced to four village teams which included the two  this evening and Slingsby and High Farndale. Gillamoor village is about four miles from Pickering on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.

When we arrived at just after six o,clock the ground had been cut yesterday and the wicket rolled. Ron sat next to the farmer who  established the ground in the 1950,s and used the roller that I photograph to level the ground. It was all done by hand and no horses were used so it must have been a massive job.

Near the changing room was an old scorebox which I was told that had been given to the club but they had never used it.The match started about 6.45 with Spout Houses batting with 10 men while Gillamoor had nine and the tenth man arrived after four overs to take over the wicket keeping making ten a side.

This is a photograph of Spout Houses going out to bat on a bright blue night and no problem with the light. Spout Houses had one supporter who comes from Thornley in Durham  and comes to every Spout Houses match on his own . He used to come with a friend but the quote from  the supporter was that " he likes his beer better " so tonight he would miss a great match.

I think that the estate agent shot was of the changing rooms next to a field of horses.Spout Houses started well scoring very quickly by sending the ball into the next field which had been cut by sheep so the ball could be found easily.Soon there was a score over 60 in ten overs in this eighteen over match. Thoughts of scores of over a hundred was mentioned however the score after the last ball was 97.

The Gillamoor innings started in a similar manner to Spout Houses by scoring 60 in eight overs and the home supporters were happy. By this time the crowd had grown to ten people sitting in the sunshine.Again wickets started to fall eventhough one over lasted nine balls due to wides.The match was slowed down by the ball lost in the hedge on numerous occassions.

As you can see from the photograph the edge of the field was covered in weeds and players struggled to find the ball. However it came down to the final over about 9.30 with the home side needed 2 runs to win. My thoughts went to Mick Bourne who has recently deid and was one of the founding P.C.W as he loved a tied match. Five balls gone no runs scored and one ball to ball with the batsman  threating to come down the wicket. The batsman missed the ball and was stumped leaving the sole Spout Houses supporter smiling and the home side supporters unhappy. However there is always another match and may this league keep going.

As good as it gets

posted by John Winn

Durham started the day favourites with Lancashire, already two down overnight, chasing the highest ever total to win a match at The Riverside, and they don't have Joe Root. Things started well for Durham with Khawaja soon on his way and Prince not far behind, although he seemed to think he should be allowed to stay. 74 for 4 and the target must have seemed a long way off but in the best batting conditions of the match and the best weather of the season Croft and Buttler changed the whole complexion of the game to the point where not long after lunch the game was firmly in Lancashire's hands. The headline for this posting was already in my mind: Sun makes Red Rose bloom.

 

 

Then came what the Finchale end voted their champagne moment, a beautifully judged catch by Muchall in the deep which saw Croft gone for 72. Enter Tom Smith, the man in form with both bat and ball, but his dismissal to the persevering Hastings saw things turn back towards Durham and with  Chapple and Hogg falling in quick succession we took tea at 276 for 8 and a Lancashire supporter  near  me said she had always known they wouldn't win. Game over then? Not a bit of it for Kabir Ali batted calmly, Stokes strayed down leg side to leave Mustard helpless to prevent extras and the 64 needed at tea was quickly halved. The remaining Durham supporters went rather quiet, some had gone at tea thinking it was in the bag, and some well before that thinking the bag was a red one.

Hastings sent our spirits soaring again when Jet Jennings caught Ali close in: 31 needed Buttler 97 not out, enter Kerrigan. He stayed long enough to see Buttler reach his 100, although a better throw from Stoneman would have run him out, but then Admiral Collingwood took the new ball, handed it to Rushworth and four balls later Kerrigan was lbw and joy was unconfined amongst the Durham faithful, who had not seen their team win since they clinched the championship nine months ago. Buttler had finally run out of partners but it was significant that while his first fifty had taken 51 balls his second had taken 80 and here credit should go to Collingwood who had set fields to staunch the flow of boundaries that had threatened a finish before tea. Durham were happy to give the Lancashire wicketkeeper singles which made him the junior in his partnerships with Smith, Chapple and Ali
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The 22 points yesterday's win gave Durham lifted them out the bottom two and after two pints of Golden XPA in my local last night my eyes turned towards the top of the table: only 27 points behind Notts with a game in hand. More seriously Sussex are next at The Riverside on Sunday and depending on the outcome of events at Arundel today may be just ahead or just below Durham: either way we are promised another close game but the blood pressure could do without another afternoon like yesterday's. Blast off is at 11:00.

ANOTHER LARGE FOURTH INNINGS TOTAL

By Brian Sanderson,

There was a decision to be made which ground we should go to either  Chester-le- Street or Trent Bridge.As you can see by the photograph above we went to the final day between Nottingham and Middlesex.The charge for a pensioner to get into the ground is a well worth £10.We arrived at the ground about 10.30 enough time for Brian Workman to get some autographs and get a cup of excellent coffee before sitting in the pavilion to watch Middlesex batting. The cost of the coffee is £1.30  which is cheaper than Headingley.

When we arrived Middlesex were 221 for 5 and looking to get quick runs to set up a run chase.They lost four wickets but scored another 51 runs which left Nottingham to score 385 in 86 overs.

This is a photograph of Nottingham leaving the field thinking about quick start with their batting. This happen with Hales and Jaques putting on 108 in 18 overs at lunchtime. This allow me  to call into Nottingham cricket library to  look at their excellent archives. I could spend days there looking at their scrapbooks.One I looked at today had belonged to Crawford White who wrote for The Dailey Express and was about 1961 season.

After lunch Ravi Patel, left arm spin bowler,got rid of the both openers but not before Jaques had scored 76 and Hales for 94.At tea Nottingham were 234 for 2 and heading for a victory

It was left to Wessels and Taylor to seal Nottingham third win this season. This was Nottingham third highest run chase of all time.I thought the Middlesex attack should have been good enough to stop Nottingham win but a short boundary on one side and bad bowling made certain this did not happen. Nottingham now go top of the league so we made the right choice of matches to see.

Tomorrow Faversham evening league in the Yorkshire country side.

Twenty years at Wantage Road

posted by John Winn

Parking my car in a terraced street adjacent to The County Ground in Northampton yesterday morning I noted that in a street where there must have been upwards of 80 cars only one was flying the flag of St George. Even if some had been removed overnight after the disappointment of the defeat by Italy the support for our brave boys in this part of NN1 seemed modest. Much the same could be said for interest in Northamptonshire's championship match with Warwickshire for when umpires Lloyd and Lloyds took the field there were fewer than 150 souls in the ground, Sunday starts do not seem to have made the impact the ECB hoped for at the home of the bottom side in Division 1.

 

Northants had warmed up with a game of football: whether Northampton Town, who shared the ground until  20 years ago, warmed up with a game of cricket is not known. I had seen football at the ground as long ago as 1977 but not watched cricket until shortly before The Cobblers left in 1994, a game between Northants and Middlesex. The ground is much changed since with a cricket centre built at the football end and several new stands but to my delight the supporters' club still have their HQ in a signal box.

Apart from the gate man, who wanted £14 from me, £2 less than when I was last here two years ago, I saw no other officials in the ground. Stewarding reduced to zero allowed me to slip unchallenged into  the members' pavilion which might be a contender for the shortest long room in county cricket but an invitation to have lunch in 'The Short Room' might not prove a puller. I enjoyed the photographs dating back to the county's early days in the championship as well as images of more recent heroes like Geoff Cook and Alan Lamb.

Northants won the toss and batting first lost wickets steadily to be 141 for 6 but Newton and Hall led a recovery with the former reaching 108 by the close. By this time I was well on my way back up the M1 happy with my weekend's cricket watching and planning a return to Wantage Road in a month's time when Somerset will be the visitors and which will complete the full set of Northamptonshire against all other counties.