HEROES AND VILLAINS

 
By Brian Sanderson,

It has been a busy three days at Headingley which finished with a thrilling finish to the 2014 season.

Andrew from London has been up ,yesterday was Wombwell Cricket Society A.G.M. so tonight was the first chance to put some comments about the match. All through the four days in the Long Room at lunchtime different cricket Yorkshire personalities have been photographed with the First Division Champioship cup.

On the second day we were treated to 156 by Nick Compton after Yorkshire was bowled out for 253.He was finally bowled by Yorkshire best bowler Steven Patterson after a 232 ball stay which included 23 fours and a six.Youngster Thomas Benjamin Abell, who was born in Taunton,made hi third Championship half century of the season.Yorkshire used a total of seven bowlers including Lyth and Root.Somerset had a lead of 66 and looked favorites.

On the third day Yorkshire enjoyed a better day with Yorkshire finishing 36 runs behind.Somerset  who were dismissed for 437 with Rashid cleaning up the tail.Lyth celebrated his 27 th  birthday leading  Division One leading run scorer and took his tally to 1489 , at average of 67.38. Somerset bowlers failed to make a early break through. Alfonso Thomas went off injured and Jamie Overton dropped a sitter.

Fourth day started with drizzle and then Ballance and Root put on 57  for the third wicket,before Root and Bairstow teamed up to score 110 in 17.4 overs. Then Yorkshire lost their last six wickets for 52 to leave Somerset a realistic run chase of 182 in 44 overs. Peter Trego finished with career best bowling figures 7 for 84 .

Somerset were now favorites. Trescothick looked set to lead the visitors to victory with 44 before been caught and bowled by Rashid.Then the middle order had a dramatic collapse as three wickets fell in four balls , with Jack  Brooks taking 3 for 46.It was left to Thomas and Overton to see out the last six overs.

If all cricket matches finished like this match I am sure the crowds would come through the gates eventhough a lot of the spectators could not work out when tea should be taken. I can now destroy my Cricketers  fixturec list for 2014. The season seem to fly by and the car can take a rest over winter.