After four busy days including two trips to Scarborough, medical appointments, domestic commitments and holidays means that it is quite possible that I will not see any cricket for the next ten days. That should at least bring a spell of good weather.
On Saturday I spent the afternoon at Lightmire Lane watching a key game in The Nidderdale League, Division 1, with top of the table Ouseburn hosting nearest rivals Darley. Arriving about half an hour after wickets were pitched Ouseburn had made a shaky start but a good anchor innings from opener Adam Fisher and some excellent clean hitting from Tom Parker saw them to 231 for 6. 'Defendable' was the verdict of the aficionados as they enjoyed the usual excellent tea. And so it proved for although Darley got off to a good start Parker sealed his man of the match status with a five wicket haul which saw the visitors dismissed fourteen short and gave OCC a six point win and a lead of ten points with half the season gone. Next up at Lightmire are West Tanfield, newly promoted but with six wins to their name and moving fast up the table.
Sunday saw me begin my watching at Sessay near Thirsk where the York League hosts took on Aire Wharf visitors Addingham in a match interrupted by rain the previous week, winners to go through to last sixteen. I was there in good time for the 1:30 start but so were many others and all car parking spaces were taken
The two umpires in contrasting coats (see below) got proceedings under way precisely on time with Addingham finding runs difficult to come by against some excellent bowling from Sessay. 22 for 0 off 10 tells the tale and with frustration getting to the batsmen wickets fell and when I left after an hour Addingham were 45 for 2 off 17. Things improved a little but 139 for 9 after the forty overs was never likely to be enough and Sessay got home comfortably by 8 wickets. They will now face Wakefield outfit Brook Walton away in Round 6, scheduled for this Sunday.
From Sessay and by a charming country road it is but a ten minute drive to Helperby and for me Sunday's main attraction, an Atkinson-Swires quarter final at the delightful Isaphan Wood ground which looked at its best on a lovely afternoon
Ouseburn, holders of the cup, batted first and made 216 for 5 off their 40 overs, another good innings from opener Fisher this time supported by the other Parker, Sam and 58 from 32 balls for Jamie Bryant. Helperby's openers looked uncomfortable against the full length ball but a horror story unfolded for Ouseburn in the form of extras, 46 in all, 25 in wides with those bowling from the top end seemingly unable to cope with the downward slope of the run up. Ouseburn skipper Dave Cummins took the bold step of introducing 15 year old leg spinner Jack Lever and when his second ball disappeared over the mower shed our hearts, and particularly his mum Caroline's, were in our mouths but to his great credit Jack went on to finish with 2 for 35 off his 7 overs and with no extras conceded. Helperby got home by five wickets with two balls to spare but they had been gifted almost five extra overs by Ouseburn's errant attack as well as the runs that come with wides and no balls. Time to concentrate on the league.
Tony has described events at North Marine Road where I have spent the last couple of days with friends from the Lower Ure Valley. Walking round the ground during tea yesterday I saw many familiar faces from Headingley and agreed with Malcolm Shearsby that the three an over pace of the game was the result of a too bland wicket, like so many up and down the country the blame for which most of us who watch championship cricket attribute to the toss/no toss regulation introduced this season. I had deliberated on Monday evening on a choice between a return to Scarborough or a trip to Chester le Street. Deciding that Yorks v Middlesex was 'more interestingly poised' I opted for the former but in so doing missed another century for Jennings, a run a ball fifty for Stokes, a maiden fifty for McCarthy and a surprising declaration by stand in skipper Stoneman. Overall however, the day at North Marine Road yielded 340 runs for 6 and The Riverside 351 for 7 so very little to choose between them and when you put dressed crab with Marie Rose sauce and a side order of lemon drizzle cake into the lunch basket then Scarborough probably wins the day.
Update on Club and Village knockouts tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment