Non-cricketing business took me to Darlington on Saturday, a dismal drizzly day when the prospects for cricket did not look good. Arriving at the Feethams ground after 2:00 I was pleased to see the captains of Darlington and Richmondshire tossing the coin followed by the announcement that a 35 over match would begin in twenty minutes.
A couple of weeks ago it looked as though as this match would decide the league title but a win for Darlington last week while their opponents could only draw meant that Saturday would be a celebration of their first NYSD championship since 1990. The trophy was ready for presentation by League President Chris West.
Before the match began I had a word with club President, John Edwardson, a childhood friend of mine and who has 40 years continuous committee service at Feethams. We pronounced ourselves satisfied with the score at half way from Lord's and expressed cautious optimism about Durham's prospects of getting the runs.
On a wicket that offered encouragement to seam bowling but with the ball picking up moisture from the outfield Darlington lost early wickets to go 34 for 3 but a stand between Dobson and Mulholland turned things round and Dobson went on to make 60 before being bowled by Richmond pro Dissanayake, who next year will wear Hartlepool's colours. Tea was reached at 169 for 7.
Led by skipper Gary Pratt, Richmond set off at a hectic pace but bad light forced the umpires to call a halt when they were 144 for 4 with 8 overs remaining and the cloud that had hung over the north east for much of the week had the final say. The afternoon had turned cold, a reminder that we are half way between midsummer and the shortest day and that September cricket does not always enjoy the kind of temperatures we had at Trent Bridge ten days ago. As I left to catch my train I was advised to 'winter well', my first such wish of the season. Six months or so before anybody is likely to ask if I have been successful.
Some of cricket's headlines last week were concerned with Leicestershire for both good and bad. The exit of two more of their squad coupled with Northants' dismal show at The Riverside brough the structuralists out of the closet with suggestions that the number of counties be reduced, to as few as ten by one sage. While that tired old hare was limping round the course Leicestershire's second XI were completing a clean sweep of the three relevant competitions with victory on first innings over Essex II, in a game where the last day was washed out by rain.
And finally just a word about Durham. Those who know me may be surprised that I wasn't at Lord's on Saturday but I did get home from Darlington in time to see that most splendid of men, Gareth Breeze, hit the winning runs. An excellent excuse to bring out the Bombay Sapphire, if one were needed. Membership of Yorkshire and Durham? Money well spent.
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