I took the train to Nottingham yesterday looking forward to seeing South Africa U19s on their furthest trip north during their short tour. They faced their English counterparts in the third of a five match ODI series, already two down. Twenty years ago I was at Canterbury to see South Africa play their first first class match in this country after their exile from international cricket. It would have seemed impossible then, even at the start of the rainbow nation, that a team like yesterday's which appeared roughly equally composed of youngsters with African and European heritage would be led by one Sibonelo Makhanya.
I arrived too late for the start of the England innings and skipper Will Rhodes was already dismissed with England 42 for 1. Admission to this lovely ground was free and access allowed for all to the pavilion, which gave me the chance to revel in the cricket history that is displayed there: the old paintings and photographs, memorabilia like Larwood's cap and rows of ancient bats, some of which were used by immortals of the game like Gunn and Shrewsbury. Oh yes and a decent pint of real ale.
On the field the action was dominated by seventeen year old Haseeb Hameed who at a run a ball hit 125. His partnership with Tom Alsop for the second wicket added 144 before Alsop was bowled essaying an enormous yahoo. To try and stem the flow Makhanya had brought himself on and when his first ball was a dot, extra cover raced to punch fists with his skipper. What if he bowled a maiden? Would we see this nonsense five more times? Successive fours ended any speculation and let the fielder save his energy for the real business.
South Africa lost wicket keeper Roelofsen for 1 to Matt Fisher and were always behind the run rate despite some good running between the wickets. Boundaries were hard to get and when I left to catch my train at 5:30 the rate was over ten. Just as I left Karl Carver was brought back into the attack and his three wickets meant that Yorkshire bowlers had 8 between them (Fisher 2 and Rhodes 3). The visitors fell 39 short and thus went 3-0 down in the series which continues at Grace Road tomorrow. The crowd yesterday was between 150 and 200, I don't suppose it will be any bigger in Leicester.
During the afternoon the excellent pa announced that Notts had beaten Northants to go top of the championship. There was no amendment when Yorkshire won at North Marine Road. I will return to Trent Bridge next month when the crowds will be much bigger and many of those who cross the almost 150 year old bridge will be of the white rose persuasion. In the meantime Yorkshire take on the other coloured rose and Notts go to Durham, who following their excruciatingly narrow defeat to Lancs yesterday, occupy eighth spot in the table. All building up nicely, let's hope the weather returns to something more settled.
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