Brian has covered the eventful first two days of the Notts v Yorkshire game at Trent Bridge. I spent most of the first day sheltering from the wind under the Radcliffe Road Stand in the company of Brian Rosindale, long standing Yorkshire cricket follower from Hull, with a particular affection for Hull Kingston Rovers rugby league team.
Hales, who I had seen score a double century for Notts second XI across the road at the old Boots cricket ground, in I think his first appearance, repeated the feat in splendid style. He is such a good player when in full flow and took a particular liking to the part time spin bowling of Jack Leaning. However, I had other plans for later in the day and left just before tea to make the fairly short journey to Grantham.
The purpose of this was to see the final stages of the first Minor Counties cricket of the season, the one day knock out, between Lincolnshire and Cheshire. The visitors were captained by Dan Woods, the very successful left arm spinner for both Leeds/Bradford University and York cricket club and must have been favourites before the start.
Lincolnshire had other ideas and made a tidy 247 all out before I arrived, top scorer Cook making 88. They were captained by David Lucas, who played county cricket for Notts, Northants and Yorkshire (briefly). He had already taken the first three Cheshire wickets very cheaply when I got there, including probably the two main men in Goodwin and Moore (another former Leeds/Bradford graduate).
Gorse Lane, Grantham
The Grantham ground is on a hill top well out of town and always a breezy spot as it was today, fortunately it is possibly to sit in the car to watch the action and most of the spectators were doing just that. Wickets continued to fall at fairly regular intervals and Lincolnshire ran out worthy winners with leg spinner Alex Osmond from Cleethorpes taking four wickets, including two smart stumpings. This was after some middle order resistance led by Cheshire's own spinner Jones, who top scored with 48.
The windy weather reminded me of my famous first visit here along with Brian Senior and Brian Cobb on a really freezing day, when we drove into town at lunchtime to find a pub with a roaring fire to get warm. Brian Cobb has been ill recently and all his cricketing friends are hoping he will soon be back in action again around the cricket grounds of Yorkshire.
My original plan for the following day (Monday) was to spend the whole day at Derby for day two of the game with Lancashire. Another long standing friend, Keith Fenton, another member of the horse racing fraternity and committed follower of Bolton Wanderers, has recently retired. He is now joining the community of professional cricket watchers, although he didn't do too badly when he was still working. However, I decided to slightly change plans and instead went back to Trent Bridge for the morning just in case Alex Hales should reach 300.
Of course he didn't, but I spent an interesting morning with Brian Sanderson and Bob Procter in front of the pavilion and after Notts were dismissed saw Alex Lees well on his way towards his hundred. On the stroke of lunch, I left Nottingham and managed to get to Derby just as the afternoon session was getting under way. Came across my friend Keith almost immediately and joined him and his several other Lancashire companions behind the bowlers arm.
As ever the conversation with any group of Lancastrians is always interesting and humorous and the rest of the day was spent in the continuing sunshine and very pleasant surroundings. A good stand between Godleman and Durston restored Derby's fortunes after Australian Peter Siddle had dismissed both star batsman Guptill and Madsen for ducks early this morning. A good spell by spinner Kerrigan ended the innings just 19 runs short of Lancashire's 293.
Perfect conditions at Derby
The day ended with some spirited bowling by left armer Footitt and youngster Taylor who dismissed both Lancashire openers and nightwatchman Siddle very cheaply and raised hopes of a Derbyshire victory overnight. The Lancastrians left somewhat chastened by this turn of events, but things turned their way again on Tuesday. Two days of long journeys down the motorway, but now two days not far from home at Weetwood to look forward to.
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