Sunshine at Acklam Park

posted by John Winn

Although it lies south of the River Tees, Acklam Park, the home of Middlesbrough Cricket and Rugby clubs, has become a regular venue for Durham second team matches and this week the Green Lane ground is  hosting four days of cricket with Glamorgan the visitors. So on a sunny morning I made the 45 minute journey up the A19 from which access to the ground is just a few minutes drive, for a SET game between the two sides

There had been an exchange of texts and early morning phone calls with three other potential attenders for there was confusion  as to the start time with suggestions of 10:30, 11:00 and 12 noon. In the event play began at 11:15, quarter of an hour late because of a delay while the sight screens were blacked out. Glamorgan batted against a Durham side with two first team regulars Jennings and Richardson included although we were informed Jennings would bat down the order.

Openers Rees and Lawlor made good progress against the bowling of Bousfield and trialist McCarthy and were not parted until the score was on 72. At three for Glamorgan was Murray Goodwin, veteran of much international cricket with Zimbabwe but it was the middle order that really gave the Welsh side momentum with Donald, Knight and Roberts all scoring quickly and things got worse for Durham when the in the last ten overs they allowed over 100 runs to be scored. Carey was particularly severe on Arshad who went for more than an eight an over and Glamorgan closed on 281 for 9 off their 50 overs.

Clark and Carr got things off to a decent start but were soon behind the rate. I'm not sure anybody cared too much among the goodly gathering of pcws at the Green Lane end, for the sun shone, there was the weekend cricket to pick over with resort to the usual excellent coverage in the local press, the World Cup got the odd mention but thankfully TS5 remained a Wimbledon free zone. Peter Sixsmith and I left with the score at 116 for 3 by which time Richardson had failed to get the score he needed, and with only opener Clark and 'keeper Poynter getting above thirty, Durham tailed away to be well beaten by 112 runs when they were all out for 169 in a shade under two hours.

The two sides return to Green Lane today for a three day SEC match with a different coloured ball and with the sight screens unfrocked. All should be ready for an eleven o'clock start and with another fine day in prospect I shall be heading up the A19 again in a couple of hours time. It is thought that Graham Onions will be in the Durham side and a successful return to action should see him at Headingley on Monday for the much looked forward to championship game.

 

The Transporter Bridge at Middlesbrough.