Yorkshire on top but day ends up the spout

Posted by Tony Hutton

Yesterday off to Riverside again after a day of batting records described by Brian Sanderson. It is hard to picture how easy the record stand between Bairstow and Bresnan appeared and by the end of the innings the Durham side looked thoroughly dejected. Full marks to the two Yorkshiremen and Bairstow must be an England candidate now whether he keeps wicket or not. 

Bairstow takes the applause as Yorkshire declare

Yesterday's proceedings started more quietly with a good crowd including many Yorkshire folk and many others like myself with a foot in both camps. So lots of chat in the crowd as I joined John Winn and his very knowledgeable friends yet again. Durham were 140-5 overnight and up against it, but Borthwick and Pringle put on a good partnership of 88 before Borthwick was caught behind off Bresnan. The bowler did it again next ball with a lifter to Hastings, who has played many valuable innings this season, and again Bairstow took the catch. Harrison survived the hat-trick but not for long.

Brooks' return to the attack brought two wickets in an over, first knocking out two stumps to bowl Harrison and then having Rushworth caught behind. Rashid finished the innings having Onions lbw and the impressive Pringle finished with a career best of 69 not out, showing promise for the future. So Durham 208 all out were 349 behind and Gale asked them to follow on, looking for an innings victory.

It won't come easily though as Durham have fought back from losing positions many times and Stoneman and Jennings went carefully about their business to put on a most valuable century opening partnership. On the hottest day of the season some of the bowlers looked rather worse for wear but Rashid stuck to his task to dismiss Jennings just before tea, shortly followed by Borthwick yet another caught behind victim for Bairstow off the persevering Patterson. Stoneman carried on to his century and looks a very solid player, who often gets runs against Yorkshire. Collingwood's dismissal just before I left was a serious blow to Durham and Yorkshire will be favourites to win today.

John Winn returns from his pitch inspection

My cunning plan for the rest of the day was to take a rather devious way home by way of Bilsdale just south of Stokesley on the road to Hemsley. Here an evening game was due to be played between the famous Spout House team, immortalised by Mike Amos of the Northern Echo, and Gillamoor. These games are always subject to late change, when weather conditions encourage the farming community to keep on working until late at night. My helpful informant, Ron Deaton, however had checked with the league secretary the night before and the game was on.

However on my arrival soon after 6 p.m. only one car in the car park next to the thatched cottage which is the old Sun Inn. The landlord said the game should start at 6.30 but no one had appeared. A couple of phone calls later the bad news came - the game had been postponed as full teams could not be raised. So I enjoyed the scenery of Bilsdale, resplendent in the evening sunlight, and the ride home via Rievaulx Abbey and Sutton Bank. No doubt this story will be continued at a later date.