The last day of my tour Monday 20th July started with a comfortable drive into Wales from my overnight stay near Shrewsbury, bound for Colwyn Bay. Glamorgan were entertaining Lancashire at the Rhos on Sea ground and had already built up a good score on day one. The two not out batsmen were the two South Africans, Alviro Peterson and Ashwell Prince, both born in Port Elizabeth in fact. They had already put on 321 together and the overnight score was 425-2 with Petersen on 205 and Prince on 154.
Colwyn Bay
Upon arrival I found three of my Lancashire friends established on the banking next to the sitescreen in pole position with probably the best view of the ground. They kindly made room for me and kept me entertained throughout the day. The banter between Yorkshire and Lancashire of course continued and I could not resist taunting them about the number of overseas players in their side. After a brief rain shower, whatever their origins, the two batsman put on a marvellous display which completely destroyed the Glamorgan bowling.
Boundaries flowed to all corners of the compact ground and several sixes went flying into the neighbouring gardens. Prince soon followed Petersen to a double century. This was the first of many standing ovations and prolonged periods of applause from the many Lancastrians in the considerable crowd who were busy studying their Playfair annuals and several records were broken in quick succession.
Another ball flies to the boundary
Having yesterday passed the record third wicket partnership for Lancashire v Glamorgan and the highest partnership on this ground (281), they proceeded to pass the Lancashire third wicket all time record (Atherton and Fairbrother 364) soon afterwards the record stand for any wicket (Watson and G.E. Tyldesley 371). Then came the 400 partnership followed not long afterwards by the 500. Both batsmen had achieved career best individual scores and had added 501 when it came as something of a surprise as Prince was out for 261 and then Petersen for 286. Lancashire eventually declared with a score of 698-5 much to the relief of the Glamorgan bowlers.
Lunchtime score at Colwyn Bay (586-2)
So history in the making with a vengence but complaints about the unresponsive pitch were soon put into perspective when veteran Glen Chapple opened the bowling for Lancashire. In a splendid opening spell he bowled Jacques Rudolph, the Glamorgan captain not only taking the off stump but sending one of the bails almost to the boundary. In his next over Chapple had yet another South African, Colin Ingram, caught behind for 0 and soon after tea when Chris Cooke played no stroke the ball came in and hit off stump. Chapple's figures were then 11-4-27-3. What a contrast with what had gone before. Glamorgan ended the day on 165-6 and suffered a heavy innings defeat after following on.
Prince and Petersen go to lunch
The Lancastrian army possibly got more satisfaction from Chapple's bowling than from the giant partnership and certainly returned to their digs all along the North Wales coast with great satisfaction and reasons to celebrate a remarkable day's cricket.
So the end of ten day journey, with good weather, good cricket and lots of interesting people to chat to. A memorable journey indeed. The good news for me is that this may well prove to be my last solo cricket watching journey, as I have now started a new partnership with a lady who is already well known to many of our regular readers and may well become known as our Yorkshire Academy correspondent. She has already corrected some of my mistakes with Academy boys' Christian names and will no doubt keep me on the straight and narrow path in future.
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