Cricket Tour of Middle England - Part 3

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 24th May saw me travel by train from Bedford via Central London to Beckenham, just inside the county of Kent. The object of this exercise was to complete my list of having seen county cricket on all the current first class grounds in the country. The trains all ran like clockwork and the changes at Blackfriars, with its stunning views of the Thames (which runs below the platforms), St Pauls and Tower Bridge, and the lesser known Herne Hill were negotiated. A pleasant walk from Beckenham Junction took me to the Kent county ground just as the first ball was being bowled.

Pavilion at Kent county ground, Beckenham

Kent were taking on very local rivals in Surrey, on the first day of a four day championship match, and a reasonable crowd was in residence, although perhaps not as many as I anticipated. A lot of temporary seating had been installed possibly for the T20 game which was scheduled to follow this match and recent work on the surrounds, with newly laid turf a bit of a hazard, was much in evidence. It is a pleasant ground, with some flats at one end giving the residents an excellent view of the cricket from their balconies. A large sports hall included the club shop and a bar and refreshment facilities were in evidence around the ground.

Lunch interval at Beckenham

 

Having paid £15 to get into the ground, not many people (myself included) had forked out a further £5 to sit in the large banks of temporary seats, especially those who had travelled by car and paid £10 to park. There were plenty of individual seats around the boundary edge and a very relaxed atmosphere as Kent started to pile up the runs. They had lost Denly early on, lbw to Fletcher who is on loan from Notts. After that Robert Key, after a period out of the side, returned with a vengence showing the class which once made him an England player. After Bell-Drumond also went lbw, this time to Ansari, Key's partnership with the young man Sam Northeast was the highlight of the day.

Spectators enjoy the sun at Beckenham

Fletcher soon retired with an injury and was left to Dunn and Curran to provide the seam attack. Ansari, talked of as an England possible, looked the pick of the bowlers with his accurate left arm spin. He eventually dismissed Key, yet another lbw, who seemed somewhat surprised by the decision, although no doubt reasonably satisfied with 89 runs to his name. Northeast followed almost immediately caught by Roy off Curran for a splendid 73. 182-2 had become 182-4 and with the next man in, Stevens, out for a duck this soon became 189-5.

Kent county ground, Beckenham

Sam Billings, the wicketkeeper, restored some respectability in partnership with Fabian Cowdrey. They put on 46 before Billings was caught behind by Wilson off the persevering Curran, yet another son of a famous father who played for Northants with some distinction. Next man in Haggett became the third duck of the innings, which somehow subsided to 282 all out, when you felt it should have been more.

However, no complaints - a very pleasant day, in good surroundings and the sun shone for most of the day. What more can you ask for. Just time on the walk back to the station, for a short detour to the ground of Beckenham cricket club on Foxgrove Road, where a friendly Sunday match was taking place. Nice big ground for one of the leading Kent club's which produced two former England players, Derek Underwood and Richard Ellison.

Beckenham cricket club, Foxgrove Road

Visiting grounds I have only visited once before

posted by John Winn

A friend of a friend is a football 'groundhopper' supreme, and one who, undaunted by all his travelling being done by public transport, he is no stranger to midnight buses from Teesside to London, has polished off all the grounds in The Southern League. But even Homer nods, for a few years ago he made his way to Folkestone only to discover that he had visited the ground before: a change of name had misled him. Something similar happened to me yesterday albeit on a slightly smaller scale, for having set a course for the Hillside Rural Activities Park, Thirsk, I realised on arrival that like the Teesside traveller I had been there before.

The game in progress was as advertised, Nidderdale League, Division 8, Thirsk III v Rainton II with the home team batting and making slow progress as this picture shows. I asked some Thirsk players for  their suggestions as to whom I might have seen on my previous visit but no reply  struck the right note until on a circuit of the large playing area I put the question to fine leg who had little doubt that it would have been Northallerton Wolves. Bingo, for on consulting my records at home last evening I see an entry for 20th June 2009, Northallerton Wolves v Dacre Banks II. Wolves were,
 I think the county town's fourth team but sad to say they now only run two senior sides.

The Rural Activities Park is a large well maintained space and as well as cricket, houses football but on a colder day it  might be a little bracing if the wind was in the North. . Yesterday there was but a gentle breeze from the west and plenty of blue sky. Thirsk got up to 126 before being dismissed and it took Rainton until the forty second over to complete a six wicket win. Whilst in the area I headed next for a ground whose title rightly suggests something other than cricket is its primary purpose, namely Thirsk Racecourse the headquarters of Thirsk CC where cricket is played  inside the circuit followed by the horses. I knew I had been here before, on a scorching day in 2007, and yesterday's fare was Thirsk II v Middleham II and up a division form the first match. Middleham batting here and no doubt feeling at home on a racecourse were going along nicely at about four an over, reaching 196 for 8 off their 45 with the homesters hanging on for a losing draw at 117 for 8. A distance in racing parlance.

 Cricket at the races

By now I was in the groove for visiting grounds that I had previously only visited once before, almost to the point where I could pretend that it had been my intention all along and just a couple of miles up the road I stopped off at South Kilvington, a small ground wedged between the A19 and the busy Thirsk to Northallerton road. The trusty notebook says I was previously here on the same day as I had been to Hillside and had seen South Kilvington take on Pately Bridge II. Yesterday, however the tenants were at home for Sessay III also  play here and their visitors were Vale of York outfit Raskelf II. Tea was being taken and there was a friendly welcome and an opportunity to study the scorebook which showed that Raskelf had suffered a mid innings collapse to go from 45 for 1  to 55 for 8 and 68 all out. The ground has a lovely new wooden pavilion in traditional style, opened in 2013 by the then local MP, with central tea rooms and 'dressing rooms off'. I enjoyed a cup of tea on the verandah* while I worked out how to spell veranda  and watched Sessay's young opening pair make a slow start at about a run an over. Wickets soon began to fall and when I left it was 9 for 3. The website this morning shows that Sessay's more experienced players saw them through but not before they lost three more wickets.

Sessay CC

Finally and not too far away, another ground visited only once before and this time a step up to Sessay I and the York League with Pickering the visitors in a Division 1 game. I think it might be as long as ten years since last I was at  the immaculately kept Main Street enclosure and a decent sized crowd had assembled in pleasant early evening sunshine. Sessay can trace their roots back to the mid 19th century and their proudest moment came in 2010 when they won the National Village KO at Lord's beating Shipton under Wychwood by 7 wickets. A sign of Sessay's pedigree was the presence of a wagtail on the outfield: such birds are raely seen away from county grounds.  In the scorebox for Pickering was my friend Trevor Gilham and the book showed Pickering 164 for 8 off 48 overs and Sessay, led by former York and Woodlands star Simon Mason who finished on 90 not out were very comfortable winners by 7 wickets.

Tomorrow to Darlington for SEC game with The Pears visiting: next Saturday grounds I have only visited on the first Saturday in June.

* the 'h' is optional but allowable (OED)

Answers to last week's quiz (or was it the week before) only Cook, Bell and Anderson survive from the Headingley test of 2010.

Cricket tour of Middle England - Part 2

Posted by Tony Hutton  

 The first four nights of my tour were spent at the Premier Inn near the marina and country park in Bedford. Excellent spot for an early morning walk alongside the lake.
I spent Saturday morning exploring the town centre and riverside (the Great Ouse) in Bedford. I had only visited once before some years ago for a Minor Counties game at Goldington Bury.

Before this turns into a Peter Davies travelogue, I should explain that I planned to visit a few scenic village grounds during the afternoon. First headed for the village of Copel, but they only run one team and were playing away. This ground has been used recently for Bedfordshire games. On to Cardington, which I remember well as the base where RAF National Servicemen were kitted out. The two huge aircraft hangers which were built to house the great airships R100 and R101 are still there and look even bigger than I remember. It was almost sixty years ago!

Ickwell cricket ground

Promptly at 1.30 I did find cricket about to start at the attractive village green ground of Ickwell whose second eleven play in the Huntingdonshire county cricket league division four, no less. Their opponents Werrington, from Peterborough, batted first with a largely Asian team reinforced by I assume the Griffin brothers and Shaun Terblanche who sounds like the compulsory South African.

The oak tree within the boundary at Ickwell

The main attraction for me was the actual large village green ground, which contains an enormous 250 year old oak tree, situated in an island well within the boundary, it also contains a bench seat with the best view in the house. If a ball hits any part of the tree it is four runs. To score a six entails a huge hit over the top of the tree. The green is surrounded by attractive cottages and trees and is obviously a very popular venue.

Ickwell village green

After the loss of an early wicket, the visitors piled on the runs, with numbers two and three both getting fifties. I later learned they were all out for 175 and then dismissed the home side for 116. As soon as I was seen taking photographs one of the players asked if I was from the local press. Not so, but a man with a long lens soon appeared to double the attendance.

Then it was on to what I hoped would be the highlight of the day - Southill Park cricket club which is situated on the Whitbread family estate. I was not disappointed.
Having done my homework I drew up at the closed gates to the estate, stopped at the yellow line and waited for them to open, which after a short pause they did. Then first left into the field adjoining the beautiful cricket ground, which I had first seen pictures of over thirty years ago. At last my ambition to visit had been fulfilled.

Southill Park and the Whitbread mansion

Southill Park play in division two of the Huntingdonshire county cricket league (although we are still in Bedfordshire) and were playing Old Eastonians who are based at Rockingham Castle, near Corby in Northamptonshire. Just to confuse you even further Werrington, from the previous match, are based in Cambridgeshire.

Southill Park

Enough of the geography lesson and time to take in the beautiful surroundings. Again I was the only spectator and while doing a lap to take my photographs encountered two members of the home side, who seemed surprised to see me and even more so when they learned I was from Yorkshire. However they provided me with much local information, including the fact they had beaten the same opponents away from home last week. We had an interesting conversation about cricketing matters which ended with an invitation for a drink in the pavilion.

Southill Park thatched pavilion & scoreboard

We returned to the pavilion where the bar was specially opened to provide me with a beer which went down well. I was introduced to the club captain, who turned out to be from Matlock in Derbyshire, where I lived in the early 1970s. I told him I went to Wembley in 1975 for Matlock Town's famous FA Trophy win. Although this was before he was born, he said people still talk about the game to this day. A wicket fell and he had to go into bat. The home side, after a good start, were loosing wickets and the scoring rate did not accelerate as much as they would have hoped.

My two new friends were in at six and seven and had to pad up. Sadly Kashif Bhatti was out for ten and then Nasar Mahmood was out first ball, so I had not brought them good luck. The innings closed after 45 overs with a score of 171-9 which made it a fairly evenly balanced contest, or so we thought.

Rural tranquility at Southill Park

I had other plans for the remainder of the day and felt it was time to move on despite an invitation to stay for tea. I was delighted both with the ground and the hospitality and chat but made my excuses and left. Next day I learned that after Old Eastonians openers had put on over 40, the rest of the side collapsed in dramatic fashion and were all out for just 55. Ricky Chamberlain had the amazing analysis of 9-5-6-5. My new friend Kashif Bhatti bowled just eight balls and took two wickets for no runs. So I missed all this excitement but had enjoyed an excellent visit.

My final stop for today was Ampthill, which at the start of the season was announced as the venue for tomorrow's Minor Counties game between Bedfordshire and Norfolk.

I discovered this had been changed to Luton, so will be going there on Monday. Today Ampthill second eleven were at home to Sandridge this time in the Hertfordshire League division 4B. Having seen pictures of this attractive ground in its parkland setting, I was intrigued by the memorial cross overlooking the ground.

Ampthill Town cricket ground

Having done a lap of the ground I went to the top of the ridge to inspect the memorial which is to the men of the Bedfordshire Regiment killed in World War I above the training camp they used in the bowl which is now the cricket ground. A further surprise on the plateau of the ridge facing east is yet another memorial cross which is in memory of Henry VIII's first wife Katherine of Aragon. This is known as Katherine's cross, as she was sent to Ampthill Castle to live after the annulment of her marriage. Fine views from the top of the hill. Now you have some history to add to the geography lesson.

Ampthill

As far as the cricket was concerned Ampthill had made 179 all out and Sandridge were in hot pursuit after tea and duly won by five wickets with four overs to spare. A very attractive ground, next door to Ampthill Town football ground, and with lovely parkland walks. Hopefully Minor Counties cricket will return here in the future.

Back to Barnie

posted by John Winn

On Saturday August 19th 1972, I played in a Darlington and District A Division game for Cockerton at Vere Road, Barnard Castle against Barnard Castle II. The match in itself was of no great significance. I think Cockerton won, I think I took two wickets and probably didn't bat. What I do remember about it was that it was my last match for Cockerton, a club for whom I had played for five seasons, acted as secretary for two years and for whose result I look  every week. In the days following that rather uneventful Saturday I moved over 300 miles to Bexhill on Sea to take up a new job and on arrival in that gentile East Sussex resort, left a message for the secretary of Bexhill CC giving a temporary address in St Leonard's where I might be contacted and indicating my availability to play cricket the following Saturday.

About 11:00 on that Saturday the doorbell of the temporary accommodation was rung by the aforesaid secretary who remains a friend to this day and very much Mr Bexhill when it comes to the running of the cricket club, Michael Waghorn, asking me if I could play that afternoon, all of which is a story for another day. The point of this blog is that until Wednesday last I had not visited the Vere Road ground in 'Barnie' since August 1972. Having spent a couple of days in Upper Teesdale this week my wife and I, on a busy market day, could not park in our usual spot and instead left the car in a street immediately adjacent to the cricket ground.  In the intervening 43 years Barnard Castle CC have gone up in the world and this afternoon their first XI will face Marton CC in the NYSD ECB Premier Division while the seconds will host Whitby 2nd XI in Division 2 of that league. Meanwhile Cockerton have slipped a little for their Saturday will be taken up by what is probably their longest trip of the season, just 15 or so miles further up Teesdale to the ground of Middleton in Teesdale CC in a D and D Div B game.

It is a measure of Barnard Castle's standing in North Eastern cricket that not only have they a relatively new pavilion but that it was opened by a knight of the realm. The old pavilion is now used by the groundsman. Otherwise the ground does not seem to have changed that much. Not surprisingly there was no cricket being played at lunch time on Wednesday but there was a list of evening matches and coaching posted which indicated what a vibrant club it is. Next time I call I must make sure there is a game to watch.

Cricket tour of Middle England - Part 1

Posted by Tony Hutton

I have just returned from a most enjoyable week's tour of cricket grounds in what can be described as Middle England, although I did make one trip south of the Thames. It may take me another week to catch up with my blogs, as I journey from Northamptonshire to Bedfordshire, briefly just into Kent, then to Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and finally Staffordshire.

My first visit was on Friday 22nd May to Oundle School where Northants second eleven were playing Lancashire in two T20 games (in coloured clothing of course). However the surroundings more than made up for this irritation. There are at least five cricket grounds and a large athletic track adjoining the main ground. However, the highlight for me was the brand new futuristic pavilion opened only one week earlier by a famous old boy, Tom Harrison now CEO of the England and Wales cricket board.

The J.M. Mills pavilion, Oundle School

The pavilion is named after an even more famous old boy J.M. Mills, who became a teacher at the school, a housemaster and Master of cricket and was connected with the school for over 80 years before his death last year. He played for Cambridge University for three years just after the war, when they had a very strong side and was captain in 1948. I vaguely remembered his name as a leg spin bowler who famously took 7-69 against a very powerful Yorkshire side in 1946. He also appeared briefly for Warwickshire, having been born in Edgbaston.

J.M. Mills

The J.M. Mills pavilion is full of interesting memorabilia including several photos of W.G. Grace, who apparently scored his 200th century, in all cricket, on this ground.
There are also panels of old boys who played first class cricket, most recently Will Jefferson of Essex and Notts, and lists of their achievements.

Although I managed to get a list of the two teams from the scorers, no scorecards have yet appeared on any known website. However Lancashire, with perhaps a bit more experience than the very young Northants side, won both games comfortably each by seven wickets. Two 18 year olds opened the batting for Lancashire in Harry Dearden and Haseeb Hamed, who has played for England Under 19s. They both both batted well and look good prospects. The first game saw Northants total 130-4 with Ben Duckett top scoring with 44, but Lancashire overtook them with some ease.

Oundle School main ground

During this game one or two sixes cleared the wire fence surrounding the athletics track where the school sports meeting was being held, putting the athletes and the spectators in some jeopardy. Not sure whether this was the reason the second game was moved, just behind a hedge, to the second ground - which meant I could claim two new grounds. Although the late Mick Bourne would have insisted on only one! 

All too much for one spectator

Northants never got going in the second game and the innings tailed off to finish 94-9 in twenty overs. Lancashire passed this score with almost five overs to spare and were well captained by the experienced Luke Procter. The Lancashire coach and former first team captain, Mark Chilton, sometimes seemed more interested in the Test Match score, but must have been very pleased with his team's performance.

Oundle School's second ground

For me the highlights were the new pavilion and the pleasant walk into the town centre during the interval between the games. A very attractive place indeed with the large number of school buildings dominating the town. Certainly worth a visit for any professional cricket watcher.
                                                                                       

 



 

                                                                                                                              

SLOGATHON

By Brian Sanderson,

After watching proper  cricket at Southport ,I went to York to see two 20/20 matches between Yorkshire seconds and Durham Seconds.York is a large ground  with an excellent wicket which is ideal for this kind of cricket. The crowd was sparse at the start of the match for a Bank Holiday Tuesday.

Yorkshire batted first and  stated well scoring 33 in 4.3 overs and large score was expected however the Durham Spinners slowed the rate down and Yorkshire scored 134 for 7. The highest scorer was Tattersall with a score of 30 in 28 balls. The photograph above is of him batting.The total was below par and expected Durham to win easily after seeing the recently at Richmond.

However Moin Asref bowled well claiming three wickets for 13 runs.Even though Yorkshire bowled nine wides , Durham could only score 125 for 8.

During the interval we went over to the Clifton Alliance ground a few yards away.Here Yorkshire over 60 ,s were bowling to Derbyshire over 60,s . The pace of the game was more sedate but it was very pleasant in the sunshine and in a well kept ground.

Moving back to the 20/20 Yorkshire were batting first again and started well again. This time they scored 49 in the first six overs.Then were 115 in the thirteenth over so a  large total was expected. However again it did not happen and finished on 156 for 7.

 Derbyshire over 60,s score

 Yorkshire and Durham score after 20 overs  a piece.

Tom Stafford at 68 still keeping wicket very well.

At this stage ,I went home and found on the computer Durham had scored 160 for 5 in 18.5 overs.Clark had scored 50 and this innings Ashraf had gone for 38 runs in his four overs and no wickets.This is slogathon for you and why I prefer the four day matches.

FOLLOWING IN JOHN,S FOOTSTEPS

By Brian Sanderson,

I had decided to go on Monday to Southport due to the better weather forecast than Sunday. We arrived early after a easy run via M62 and after parking the car I purchased a concessionary ticket for £12 which is excellent value.After a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich we settled down to watch the end of the Derbyshire innings.

Matthew Critchley out after scoring 41.

Matthew Critchley battled well and with the help of Mark Footitt to bring the score to 370 off 106.3 overs
When Lancashire started to bat they lost two wickets for eighteen runs which brought Ashwell Prince and Alviro Peterson.These two batted until five o,clock in the afternoon producing a partnership of 258 which was the record 3rd wicket partnership  for Lancashire against Derbyshire. Both were in no problem until Peterson was caught at the wicket for 113 of Tom Taylor. Both are South African but it would be nice to see a young Lancastrian batsmen coming through their Academy.

Peterson and Prince at tea  with a stand of 192

Prince,s century

Peterson and Prince 250 partnership

Peterson out on  113.

Record 3rd wicket partnership against Derbyshire by Lancashire

 A great day at the seaside and seeing history in the making. York tomorrow ,see what that brings.

Visitor to Southport buys The Southport Visiter*

posted by John Winn

Chances to see championship cricket at grounds not previously visited come along rarely these days so as far back as November a trip to Southport had been in my diary for this weekend. Despite a forecast that suggested a late start yesterday offered the best opportunity so 7:30 saw me leaving home and following the A59 over Blubberhouses. The forecast was not wrong for precisely as a sign welcomed me to The County Palatine a blanket of drizzle and mist descended which brought the wipers into play until the outskirts of Southport but the skies began to brighten and when I parked up the sun was trying to break through.

 The local newspaper The Southport Visiter (sic) was excited about the return of county cricket to Trafalgar Road and devoted three pages, with colour photographs, to the visit of Derbyshire but I was disappointed by its local cricket coverage. There were reports on Southport Trinity, New Victoria, Bootle and the hosting club Southport and Birkdale but no detailed results or tables. Street parking was available just three minutes walk from the ground and to give you a flavour of the area the property pages of The Visiter offered a seven bedroom property in the street where I parked for just over £1 million. The land of Hansen and Lawrenson I believe.

 

Southport and Birkdale CC

 

A queue had formed waiting for  the gates open at ten and before the local officials had had time to straighten their blazers and check their club ties were straight, a pile of scorecards, which should have been sold at the gate, had disappeared from a table in the pavilion on the assumption that they were free of charge. Umpires Bailey and Cook took a cursory look but there was never any doubt that the call of play would be heard at 11:00 and Derbyshire stand in captain Godelman opted to bat. I was seated among a group of Lancashire supporters who although from various parts of the county were clearly good friends and familiar with each other's company. For a while Derbyshire's good progress went largely unnoticed while Preston North End's Wembley prospects were chewed over but with Godelman and Slater bounding along at five an over eventually it was agreed that this was 'not the morning we wanted' whereupon most of the group retired to the bar from where some had not returned when I left the ground at 4:30. Clearly that was the sort of morning (and afternoon ) we wanted.

 

 Keeping off the wicket

 

129 without loss off 35 overs, yes 35 overs before lunch, added up to a good morning's work for Derbyshire and having accepted the invitation to walk on the outfield, but keep off the wicket, during the interval and eaten most of my packed lunch I felt a contented man and glad I had made the two hour drive to enjoy cricket at an 'outground'. My post lunch reverie was broken by the fall of Slater and from then on Lancashire chiselled away at the Derbyshire card with at one point Kerrigan, who a steward informed me 'doesn't take wickets' on a hat trick and the visitors finished the day on 335 for 9. That the day gave good value for money is emphasised by the fact that customers got a bonus over with 97 being bowled before 6:00 but by then I was well on my way home, despite the best efforts of the local highways department to keep all visitors to Southport in the town for at least one night by an incomprehensible road closure

Southport hosted championship cricket two years ago and if the new powers at the ECB get their way and the number of matches is reduced to possibly twelve, then 2015 may be the last time the well heeled post code of PR8 2HF sees first class cricket. Let's hope not.

 

Southport CC looking towards the railway side

 

* spell check doesn't like this and The Chambers Dictionary says it is rarely used but The Visiter was founded in 1844 so I think they should be allowed to keep this spelling

QUICK VISIT TO RICHMOND

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny morning I went with the family to revisit Richmond were I was early in the month watching Durham Seconds. As it happens there was a match between Richmondshire Thirds and Redcar in a forty-five over match .Redcar are at the bottom of the league with 34 points whilst Richmondshire are sixth with 75 points. Redcar started fielding with nine men with the tenth man arriving after nineteenth over.

Adam Langhorne was the highest scorer with 81 and is averaging  with .96.50 before this match. The above photograph is the classical photograph of the ground with a view of the castle.

Drink time at half time.

First wicket partnership

Richmondshire score when I left.

Andy Langthorn highest scorer

TRIP GOES ON

By Brian Sanderson,

Moving on from Kildale we went on to Moorsholm who were the Langbaurgh Champions last year and were playing Hartlepool Power Station today. A comment by a spectator was the club were just hoping to survive  as their main bowler from last year had moved to another club. Hartlepool were 80 for no wicket when we arrived in the nineteenth over.At this point  there was three fours taken off a bowler who then decided to kick the wicket down and storm off the field.None of us had seen any thing like it before and leaves the club with a big problem of how they deal with the player.

Next ground we visited was Staithes who were playing Nawton  Grange  in the Beckett League.We had visited the ground a few years ago but the cricket had finished so we were pleased to see cricketers on the field. The away side had scored  90 and the home side were heading for victory.The photograph above is the best view in the ground.

Moving on down the road we called into Loftus were there was a most unusual match happening in the Cleveland Cricket League. The league now only  consists of three clubs with five teams  so today Loftus second team were playing a league match against their first team.

The second team had batted first and had scored 138. It was a sorry site to see one of the last matches played in the league as  it would seem the it would fold after 130 years of being  formed. Five years ago they had  two divisions with eight teams  in  one of them and nine in the other.

Moving on to our last ground at Nunthorpe were their second team were playing Crathorne in the Langbaurgh League  . At this time it was six o,clock  so Nunthorpe batted 39 overs for 81 runs so it must have great to watch. Glad we missed it. Great views to the hills.

Another good trip seeing a varied league cricket at different standards.

KILDALE

By Brian Sanderson,

Another trip towards the East Coast on a nice sunny day, quite a contrast to Thursday.The first ground we visited was Kildale which is in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire . It lies approximately three miles from Great Ayton within the North Yorkshire National Park and on the Cleveland Way.Quoting from Wikipedia ,the cricket club were 2012 champions of the Langburgh League . The first team is captained by Marty Pellow . Other notable players include leg spinning talisman and amateur competitive eating champion of North East England James Burn. The team,s ground is one of the most picturesque in Great Britain.Today they were playing East Hardsley and due to the views of the ground I have decided to show a number of photographs of the ground. If you were producing a book a scenic grounds you would have to include this ground.

Umpire awaiting start of play.

Match starting with the cows not interested

What a great view from the house on the hill.

Quarry workers houses in the distance.

 Great views toward the hills

A great place to play cricket