Last month I was at Trent Bridge for the fourth day of Notts' match with Northants. Notts began the day with a lead of just 11 which within an hour and a half was increased by 150 runs, largely thanks to a extravagant burst of hitting by Wessells who scored a run at a minute for his 158 containing seven sixes. Driving to Headingley yesterday morning I just briefly considered that Notts might approach the day's play with the same positive attitude but much more to the front of my mind was the idea that we were in for an attritional day with a draw the most likely outcome. And that is what we got.
Of course a very different situation prevailed from that which I enjoyed in May. Lose early wickets and Notts might find themselves struggling to save the game, the pitch was not conducive to big hitting and the two sides were much more evenly matched. On a pleasant morning but one where cloud masked the sun from time to time, Lumb and Taylor began cautiously and a reasonable fourth day crowd settled in their seats without any great anticipation of fireworks. Two quick wickets for Patterson jolted us into an animated state and when slogger Wessells departed at 154 for 5 'maybe, just maybe' became our mantra. But Bresnan was not bowling well, Sidebottom will travel to Arundel but won't play and if there is any justice Plunkett will resume his test career at Lord's this morning, all of which helped Taylor and Reed add 115 and to a lead of over 200 for Notts.
By mid afternoon the only thing one could see preventing the captains shaking hands before 5:00 was that the regulations don't allow it but the entry of Siddle sparked off a bout of hitting and a declaration which allowed tea and the ten minute interval to be merged. 39 overs to survive or score an unlikely 294 to win and a steady start convinced me that it was time to beat the traffic but by the time I reached home Yorkshire had lost three wickets and found themselves in a slightly undignified position where Gale and Bairstow blocked to such effect that just 8 runs came off the bat from 80 deliveries.
Halfway through Pointless Read called truce with the white rose on 53 for 3. The teams shared 18 points equally, not enough to put Yorkshire back on top. If, like mine, your morning newspaper can't find room for the tables, then Somerset are top with 113, five points ahead of Yorkshire and Middlesex are third, a further four points behind. All have completed half their programme of matches and the nights don't start drawing in for another ten days. Next up for Yorkshire is the trip to Arundel where they will face a Sussex side who since winning their first two games have been winless and were soundly beaten by Somerset earlier in the week.
Next up for this blogger is a trip to Leicestershire for some league cricket on Saturday and on to Northampton for the visit of Warwickshire on Sunday. The forecast is good but if it is as reliable as those published by Look North for Monday and Tuesday, I might as well stop at home.
Just thought Iwould include a photograph taken during the fouth day of the match when some people are more interested in old scoecards.
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