Autumn Leaves

posted by john Winn

After my trip to Lord's last week I spent most of the next three days within eyeshot or earshot of the tv/radio commentaries on the thrilling finish to the county championship that Tony has described so well in the posting he made on Tuesday. A birthday celebration took my wife and I away from home on Friday afternoon but thanks to DAB radio we were able to listen to commentary on the closing overs, and what an excellent service TMS provided, as we drove towards Upper Teesdale. The end when it came, came of course in the most dramatic fashion with Ro-Jo's hat trick and with it the element of controversy that provided so much oxygen for conversation over the following days.

I find myself very much in agreement with Tony's last paragraph. Nobody likes joke bowling but I remember Gale and Lyth chucking up some rubbish at Scarborough a few years ago the outcome of which was a thrilling victory for Yorkshire over Gloucestershire, and what was the alternative, that Middlesex should bat the afternoon out to a tame draw thereby confirming the prejudices of the competitions opponents? Better surely that a crowd of over 10000 should have thrilling entertainment, some of whom no doubt are infrequent attenders at championship matches. Of course one feels sympathy for Somerset but that is tempered by the wicket they prepared for the game with Durham in August when forty wickets fell in two days and 17 minutes for an average innings score of 172 and only one batsman scored 50.

Sour grapes you say from a man born in the Land of The Prince Bishops and may be so but the same grouse could be made by Warwickshire for their match at Taunton a month later didn't make the fourth day and the average innings score was  a shade over 145 and this time just  two batsmen reached the half century. 

Just two weekends left for pcws to enjoy Arthington. A reminder that The Hawks visit tomorrow and that on Sunday Doghouse will come to Wharfedale, let's hope for the sunshine of last Sunday as 'the days dwindle down to a precious few.'

Controversial end to the county championship

Posted by Tony Hutton

First of all apologies for the delay in reporting the rather complex and controversial end to the county championship season. Family comes first and with my two grandsons celebrating their eighth and thirteenth birthdays respectively on the 16th and 24th September I was involved in two trips to Paris, with three and a half days at Lord's in the middle.

Despite all the pre-match conspiracy theories which robbed Yorkshire of Root and Bairstow due to ECB rulings (surely not Andrew Strauss alone), Rashid at his own request, for which he was pilloried by many including Michael Vaughan without knowing the full facts, and finally Jake Lehmann, recalled by South Australia, Yorkshire fielded a team fully capable of winning the match.I had seen the last two season's games between these teams at Lord's and was determined not to miss the third, something rather special always seems to happen.

John Winn has described the events of day one when we met briefly behind the pavilion, hardly recognising him wearing a tie! Gubbins was without doubt the Middlesex hero of the day, but little mention was made of the number of times he played and missed, particularly against the admirable Sidebottom. It reminded me of a century scored by former Middlesex man Ben Hutton at Scarborough some years ago when he never looked really in. Perhaps something to do with them both being pupils at Radley School (along with a certain Mr Strauss). The early finish due to bad light, which was hardly any different than when the match started, and the fact that floodlights are not allowed for county championship matches at Lord's added to the conspiracy theories.

Yorkshire must have been relieved when Bresnan had Gubbins caught at slip by Lyth early on day two but Franklin the captain, a very useful man coming in at number seven, held firm and his innings of 48 was a valuable contribution. Brooks finished off the tail and Yorkshire were probably happy with a score of 270 against them.

Things soon took another direction when Toby Roland-Jones no less (you don't get many Tobys in the north of England) ripped the early Yorkshire batting to shreds. All the more painful when you consider that both he and Gubbins were students at Leeds University and polished their considerable abilities with Leeds/Bradford MCCU at my home ground of Weetwood. Having picked only four specialist batsman, three of them in Lees, Ballance and Gale, all went for nought. 32-3 in no time, with only Lyth looking at all confident. When he went for 43, bowled by Finn, it was 53-4 and the many Yorkshire supporters on the ground in despair.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. That man being Tim Bresnan whose batting has really blossomed in recent seasons, his huge partnership with Bairstow at Durham last season being particularly admirable. He played carefully without taking risks and helped by Hodd, the wicketkeeper, who just missed a century at Scarborough recently, the two of them put on 116 runs before Hodd was lbw to Roland-Jones. Azeem Rafiq stayed with Bresnan until the close of day two when Yorkshire were 235-6, with Bresnan looking impregnable on 72 not out.

Bresnan celebrates his century

Day three began with Yorkshire needing to get to 350 to overtake Somerset's bonus points and to have any chance left of winning the championship. This seemed a very tall order when Rafiq was bowled by Murtagh for a fine 65 and soon followed by Patterson and Brooks. So 334-9 when last man Sidebottom joined Bresnan. The runs came in singles until bad light followed by rain took the players off for an hour with only one run of Yorkshire's target still required. Even the Almighty seemed to be conspiring against them.

On the resumption the vital run was scored by the veteran Sidebottom with a boundary to great relief among the Yorkshire players and supporters. The win was still possible. When Sidebottom was finally out for 20, Yorkshire had made an amazing score of 390, a lead of 120, and Bresnan 142 not out had played the innings of a lifetime and received a well deserved standing ovation from the large crowd.

The excitement was not over as the Middlesex second innings began with Robson out for nought, caught at slip by Lees of Sidebottom (his first wicket of the match) and then Nick Compton bowled by Brooks for one. Middlesex 2-2 and Yorkshire looked to be in sight of the championship. However, Gubbins yet again and Malan buckled down and safely saw Middlesex to the close on 81-2. Most onlookers could not envisage a Middlesex victory from this position and an early break through by Yorkshire tomorrow should bring them the title. The only alternative seemed to be a drawn game in which case Somerset would be champions.

On day four in perfect sunny conditions for the final day of this enthralling game Gubbins, batting with greater authority than in the first innings, and Malan batted throughout the morning session before Gubbins was surprisingly out for 93 caught and bowled by Rafiq. Malan went on to his century and Yorkshire looked to be running out of steam and ideas. At this point in the early afternoon I had to take my leave to catch my train back to Paris.

Time for me to leave!

 

I was unaware of the final stages of the game, the joke bowling, the declaration by Middlesex, Yorkshire's run chase and Roland-Jones hat-trick to finish the game and give Middlesex the title, until my train emerged from the Channel Tunnel and I received the final news, speeding across northern France, with a headline on my phone - Sidebottom bowled by Roland-Jones, Middlesex champions!

The subsequent debate started with e-mails from many of my cricket watching friends decrying the events of the fourth afternoon, fears for the future of county cricket, the loss of the spirit of cricket, Somerset were robbed and so on. For once the letters page of the Yorkshire Post had everyone in agreement that this was not a good thing and should not be allowed, almost the end of cricket as we know and love it.

My own reaction was slightly more mellow. While condemning the joke bowling, the situation was unique, the teams at Lord's had to achieve a result otherwise a draw would have handed the championship to Somerset. Sympathies to them, the perennial runners up who had beaten Yorkshire so soundly at Headingley last week. The two captains had really no option. A result was achieved and Middlesex, who have been the outstanding county side of the season, particularly their victories over Yorkshire at Scarborough and Somerset at Taunton, are worthy champions. Congratulations to them and to both teams for the three and a half days that I saw which will live with me for a long time.

Yorkshire held up. By Gubbins!

posted by John Winn

Problems with the overhead wires at Retford, which have bedevilled the east coast mainline in recent weeks delayed my arrival in to the capital yesterday to the extent that as I walked by the Nursery Ground at Lord's I heard Sidebottom's first appeal of the morning, alas turned down but I was soon seated alongside my friend and Yorkshire and Middlesex member, John Gawthrope. Divided loyalties for John? Not in the least and he was pleased as the next Yorkshire man or woman, and there were plenty in the ground, when Brooks sent Robson on his way with the score at 11. Sufficeint reason to repair to the Bowler's Bar from where we saw Compton go in the same fashion, lbw Brooks.

33 for 2 and the first point of the day almost in Yorkshire's hands, unlike the ball which at least three, possibly four times slipped through their fingers to hit the hallowed turf. Most expensive of these misses was to Rafiq at point off Gubbins when the Leeds/Bradford MCCU product had only 22. When bad light brought an early closure about 5:00 the very promising left hander was undefeated on 120, almost 60% of his sides runs. Yorkshire have packed their side with seam to the extent of weakening the batting, it appears as though Bresnan might bat as high as five, and the five pace bowlers restricted Middlesex to a little over two and a half runs per over. Willey preferred to Plunkett, went for 15 in his first over but then settled to concede only 39 off his next 13. Miser of the day, Sidebottom, gave up just 23 off his fifteen overs but he went wicket less, no repeat of last year's three wickets in his first over alas.

Meanwhile in the west the third team with designs on finishing top of the table, Somerset, who must have cheered when they heard that bad light had intervened in NW8, allowed the euphoria to go their heads and collapsed against Notts to a point where four batting points, let alone five, seem unlikely. A Taunton scoreboard that read 302 for 2 and 322 for four, this morning will show 322 for 9  with the last five having gone down at that score, Jake Ball the main destroyer.

Our Deputy Little Ouseburn correspondent reports that it is a fine sunny morning at Lord's with play due to resume in half an hour. This is the 'live table'

Middlesex  played 15 batting 47, bowling 37, 214

  

Somerset played 15, batting 43, bowling 38,   206

Yorkshire played 15 batting 45, bowling 40,   205

Barring an all run 28 at Taunton Yorkshire can draw level with Somerset with the first ball of the day. Time to fire up Robert Key and Nasser Hussain.

South North bring it north

posted by John Winn

Rather like Saturday's game between Warwickshire and Surrey yesterday's Royal London Club Championship final at Northampton was a bit of a disappointment, especially for the followers of Norfolk team Swardeston who earlier in the week had won the club T20 competition at Derby.

South Northumberland won the toss and batted being bowled out for 159 in 44.5 overs. Swardeston made a disastrous start and were 8 for 3, only two batters made double figures and they were all out in the 24th over for just 84 leaving Gosforth, Newcastle based South North winners by 75 runs.

St Lawrence catch the plane

posted by John Winn

On Saturday I spent a lovely September afternoon at Headingley watching a close fought play off between Pudsey St Lawrence and Great Ayton, the winners booking their flights to Abu Dhabi where they will meet the winners of the other playoff which was being contested concurrently at Scarborough.

Both sides had brought enthusiastic groups of supporters and there were a number of familiar faces among those who might have been considered neutrals. Perhaps as many as 300 of us altogether took advantage of the free admission but programmes, available for a £1 had a very limited circulation. PSL, who had I seen defeated just six days earlier in the Black Sheep final, and qualifying via the championship of the Bradford league won the toss and elected to bat. Their innings was anchored by Mark Robertshaw who batted almost three hours for his 93 but found it difficult to get the rate much above three an over. Harper and Allinson struck early blows to reduce Pudsey to 38 for 2 until a good stand for the third wicket brought them to a point where a score beyond 200 looked possible but the Ayton spinners kept good mid innings control and only Lamb managed a run a ball late in the order. 200 for 8 after 50 overs made me think Ayton were slight favourites but on a slow wicket only slight.

In the interval I walked into Headingley where the many cafes were teeming with customers, including Yorkshire bowler Jack Brooks, later spotted in the ground, enjoying r and r before the trip to Lord's this week. The Great Ayton innings followed the pattern of St Lawrence's, namely an anchor role from an opener, in this case NYSD top scorer Chris Batchelor who made 87 and was sixth out but like Robertshaw was never able to step up the scoring rate and finished with an almost identical strike rate. At no point were the team from the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire, qualified as the highest placed Yorkshire club in the NYSD, a contentious point with some pcws, up with the modest required four runs an over. Again the spinners bowled well, particularly Chris Marsden who showed no sign of the injury he sustained in the Black Sheep final and conceded only 18 from his ten overs. A few lusty blows from Marsay kept the pot boiling and with 18 needed off 2 overs NYSD hopes were alive but two wickets fell in close order and 13 off the last over proved too much for the last pair and PSL were home with 7 runs to spare, compensation for their losses in the Priestley and Black Sheep finals.

So the sun went down on another season at Headingley but I have yet to meet anybody who doesn't think that there should be one more match, namely the final of this four team competition. Instead it will be in Abu Dhabi and there, after warm up matches, St Lawrence will take on Wakefield Thornes who overcame Harrogate at North Marine Road. Spectator packages start just short of £1300, see you at Arthington.

Tomorrow sees the start of the last round of championship matches with the four first division games all of significance. Hampshire could survive with a draw but it would need Lancashire to give Warwickshire an almighty pasting or vice versa for that to be the case and I am sure they will regard it as a must win match. Durham need nine points to ensure fourth place, a repeat of last year's position, but fewer might do the trick. Warwickshire and Lancashire will find it hard not to follow events on the south coast and if Warwickshire go down it would free up a couple of my 'must see matches' in 2017.

At Taunton Somerset  take on relegated Notts knowing that by Friday night they might be champions for the first time of a competition in which they have competed since the late nineteenth century. If the wicket  is similar to those used recently then it is hard to imagine full batting points being won by either side and they too will be concerned about events elsewhere, namely Lord's where Yorkshire are the visitors. The ifs and buts of this encounter are best left to each individual's imagination but as if the current table hasn't been the cause of sleepless nights then the refusal of the ECB to allow Bairstow to play has thrown some red hot chillies into the pot. Bairstow has played only five days cricket in the last five weeks and will not play again until October and most importantly feels refreshed and last week Stokes and Wood, both of whom have had major injuries this summer were allowed to play for Durham, the former bowling his boots off on the last afternoon to guarantee his county another season in the top flight. Andrew Strauss along with coach Trevor Bayliss is a key mover in this decision and is likely to face some stiff questions from Yorkshire members at Lord's tomorrow, if he decides to watch his former county in action.

Long shadows at Headingley on Saturday.

Tomorrow sees the start of the last round of

Durham make it twelve in a row

posted by John Winn

Yesterday morning saw me driving up the A1 in murky conditions and it was only the floodlights that allowed play to start on time but the cloud soon cleared to present the faithful with a beautiful last day of the season at The Riverside and as last year the cricket fitted the occasion.

Durham began the day with a lead of 247 and two wickets in hand, a lead that Durham supporters hoped might be extended to 300 before Surrey batted. Carse played some nice shots but Wood and Onions made only modest contributions and the visitors were set 281 to win. Game on, odds probably even until Wood struck in each of his first two overs and then Burns joined Sibley and Sangakkara in the pavilion at 11 for 3 and South Terrace Block 5 began to dream of a finish by tea. Enter Ansari and Roy, who had put on 164 in the first innings, to guide Surrey safely to lunch and well into the afternoon by which time the odds had swung in favour of the brown caps. Borthwick, whose modest haul of wickets have cost over 50 apiece this season, was brought on by Collingwood when there were at least a few runs still to play with and at 154 after a stand of 143 legspin did the trick trapping Ansari in front for 51. Borthwick dismisses Ansari, two men who will be in competition for a place in the Surrey line up next year.

Roy, who impressed me greatly in this match, and Foakes went to tea 168 for 4, 123 to get and bags of time, Surrey's to lose but first ball after tea Stokes has Roy* caught behind to set up as good as two hours of cricket as you could wish to see. Two hours in which five wickets fell, Stokes bowled at his very best, ably supported by Onions, Jennings took a catch which should really have been Borthwick's, presumably on the principle that Scotty won't be there next year,Sam Curran who had taken seven wickets in Durham's second innings hit 50 not out and shortly after half past five we lept from our seats as Onions uprooted Footitt's off stump and Durham had won by 21 runs. First class cricket at its best and a win for Durham that not only secures them a twelth successive season in the first division but leaves them in a position from which they could rise to fourth and overtake Surrey. Not bad for a county whose financial situation has prevented them from having an overseas player, who are losing two of their top three batsmen to yesterday's opponents and where for the last three months ther have been countless rumours as to who else might leave The Riverside. Chuck in the second XI championship and the final of T20 blast and you might call it not a bad season.

The icing on the cake yesterday was that it was Darlington Eddie's 80th birthday, no finer present than a win over Surrey, the downside that Our Hartlepool Correspondent, that most dedicated of Durham members, had to leave early, the chains of office dragging him back to an important engagement at Hartlepool CC.

Finally tomorrow sees the semi finals of the Yorkshire Premier League with Great Ayton (NYSD) taking on Pudsey St Lawrence at Headingley and Harrogate (Yorkshire Premier North) facing Wakefield Thornes (Yorkshire Premier South) at Scarborough. There has been some misinformation about these games but  wickets are  pitched at 11:00, and admission is free.

* there was some disgraceful booing of Roy whe he was dismissed yesterday, he was given not out earlier in his innings by the umpire when to many he appeared to have edged a delivery and stood his ground as he was entitled to do.

Yorkshire second XI season ends with defeat

Posted by Tony Hutton

Tuesday 13th September - perfect day at Scarborough as Yorkshire second XI bring their season to an end with a three day friendly against Nottinghamshire. This was day two and gave us the opportunity to have a day off from the championship game at Headingley where Yorkshire were making heavy weather of their game with Somerset.

Day one had seen a surprise return to the Yorkshire ranks for Jonathan Tattersall, whose services were dispensed with at the end of the 2015 season. He came back with a vengeance yesterday scoring 101 out of a Yorkshire all out total of 232, as Yorkshire rather fell apart against the pace bowling of Kitt, Milnes and Brown.

Early morning heat haze

Tattersall, a former England Under 19 captain, has been in good form this season, not only for his club side Harrogate, but for Derbyshire 2nd XI and Lincolnshire minor counties side. Hopefully we might see him appearing for Yorkshire again next season.

View from the popular side

Today's play, in perfect sunny conditions in front of a modest crowd, saw plenty of action and it was good to be able to walk round the ground to view from different vantage points and to take refreshments on the pavilion balcony. Added pleasures were a walk in Peasholm Park at lunchtime, complete with ice cream, and a stroll along the North Bay cliff top during tea.

Familiar view of the pavilion at Scarborough

Notts managed a first innings lead of just eleven runs, after a dogged 55 from Dal and some effective hitting from Patterson-White at number nine. He took a liking to Karl Carver's left arm spin and rather spoilt his previously excellent figures by scoring seven fours and three sixes in an innings of 58. Carver eventually trapped him lbw and ended with 4-75 off twenty three overs. Opening bowlers Milnes and Kitt then added twenty for the last wicket and Notts were eventually all out for 243.

Yorkshire's second innings was woeful. Kitt, another Devonian, like first team batsman Jake Libby, destroyed the top order of Tattersall, Brook and Leaning and Yorkshire were 24-3 in no time. Only Ben Ainsley got his head down and made top score of 32, but when he was out at 87-6 the innings fell into terminal decline as Carter bowled eight overs of tidy off spin and took 2-2 before Kitt returned to finish them off.

Kitt's final figures were 6-43 and this was not the first time he has had success against Yorkshire this season. The all out score was just 107 and Yorkshire were facing defeat before the end of day two which caused concern amongst one or two of the grandparents present already booked into overnight accommodation.

To be fair, the homeside did fight back in the last session and Fisher and Coad produced a fine opening spell to reduce Notts to 24-4 with slight hopes of a dramatic home victory. However they could not make another breakthrough and with fifty runs still required the extra half hour was not claimed, no doubt both teams wanting another overnight stay in Scarborough.

Memories of a Scarborough and Yorkshire stalwart from the 1940s

The following morning, when we were back at Headingley for the last rites, Notts completed a comfortable victory in the end by five wickets, with young wicketkeeper Keast not out 26 and Carter not out 25. So good entertainment all round on a perfect summer's day in mid September  on Tuesday was a real bonus for the fifty or so spectators spread around this wonderful ground with the prospect of still two county championship matches next season, hopefully with more second eleven games too.

Arthington cricket festival fixtures

Posted by Tony Hutton

I am reliably informed that the fixtures for Arthington cricket club's end of season festival are as follows:-

Sunday 18/9 Halifax Nomads
Saturday 24/9 Jesters
Sunday 25/9 King William, Bishop Auckland
Saturday 1/10 Hawks
Sunday 2/10 Doghouse
Saturday 8/10 Cambridge Methodists
Sunday 9/10 St Georges Church

There seems to be some confusion regarding the fixture with Mutineers, originally planned for Sat 17/9 but possibly put back to Sun 16/10 because of Nidderdale League fixtures being replanned for 17/9. However I now understand these league fixtures have been cancelled.

All games are at Arthington cricket club near the church on the road between Pool-in-Wharfedale and Harewood Bridge. September starts usually 1.30 and October starts usually 1 p.m.

York win Black Sheep Champions Trophy

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 11th September and the final of the Black Sheep Champions Trophy, which is played for by the eight champions of the major leagues in Yorkshire in the 2015 season, takes place at Sheriff Hutton Bridge cricket club at Moor Farm, Strensall. A good number of Pudsey St Lawrence supporters, fresh from winning the Bradford League yesterday, came by coach and managed to arrive in time despite the driver diverting to Sheriff Hutton cricket club which is a totally different location near the famous castle.

York's batsmen are ready and chat with coach Jim Love

Pudsey's opponents were the more local side, York Cricket Club, who not only won the Yorkshire Premier league last season but have dominated that competition during the last ten years or so. York may have been missing one or two regulars but they had the formidable Yorkshire batsman Jack Leaning, who still plays for the club regularly when not on county duty and two very consistent spinners in Dan Woods and Tom Pringle. Pudsey's side looked equally strong and a close contest was in prospect.

Determined skipper Jim Smith leads Pudsey St Lawrence onto the field.

The game got off to a sensational start when York's high scoring opener Duncan Snell was brilliantly caught one handed down the leg side by wicketkeeper Duce off the very first ball of the game from Charlie Parker. This was the man we had seen playing for Warwickshire 2nd XI earlier in the season and was the only moment of joy for Pudsey for some considerable time as Leaning and Ryan McKendry put on a partnership of 99 for the second wicket.

After McKendry was out for 45, Leaning got more valuable support from wicketkeeper Booth with 30 and then this season's newcomer Tom Friend who hit 73 off only 37 balls to give the York innings great momentum in the final stages. Leaning went on to an effortless century and one can only wonder why this recently capped county player is left out of the side for an Australian with a famous father. York finished on 288-6 in their fifty overs and Pudsey had the look of a beaten team. Perhaps they had celebrated too well last night!

Pudsey got off to the worst possible reply loosing Waite and Calum Goldthorpe to opening bowler Charlie Elliot. 31-2 and uphill all the way but Robertshaw and Duce got things going gradually before Snell had Robertshaw caught on the leg side and the introduction of left arm spinner and captain Dan Woods soon got rid of Duce. Resolute skipper Jim Smith made a fight of it and made good use of his big hitting ability with four sixes and five fours in a splendid 64, but the target was never really in sight.
Some resistance from Parker and Watts at the end took Pudsey beyond the 200 mark.

Unfortunately Pudsey's larger than life all rounder Chris Marsden injured a leg during the last over of his ten over spell and was unable to bat. So Pudsey were nine wickets down and all out for 208 falling short by 80 runs. Something of a blow to the Bradford League's prestige but York's all round strength and superior fielding carried the day and they looked worthy winners. The arguments will continue as to which of the Yorkshire leagues is the best and although the two Yorkshire premier leagues may not have the strength in depth their top teams do look the best.

Harrogate crowned as league champions

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday September 10th was the last day of cricket for most of the Yorkshire Leagues. Harrogate, thanks to last week's total washout, had already claimed the Yorkshire League North league title. Today they entertained Stamford Bridge at St George's Road in front of the usual paltry crowd that attends their games. It is a sad reflection on a town the size of Harrogate that it cannot support one of the major clubs in Yorkshire. The crowd was swelled by a small contingent of visiting supporters but in total probably no more than between twenty and thirty people attended.

The visitors won the toss and batted on what turned out to be another fine day and another very competitive match. The Harrogate attack, boosted by the appearance of Ben Coad, the Yorkshire second XI opening bowler, took wickets at regular intervals and soon reduced the Bridge to 99-5. Only opener Boyle kept things afloat with an impressive innings of 70. When slow left armer Foster was introduced he immediately took three wickets, including that of Boyle and 118-5 soon became 118-8.

Only the last pair of Murphy and Easton added some respectability with a stand of 30, before Easton was run out by Tattersall. So Stamford Bridge all out for 152 aided by some occasional bowlers towards the end of the innings. Good, the opening batsman, who rarely bowls had two very tidy maiden overs and was allowed to lead the side in to celebrate this achievement!

Tattersall, one of nine bowlers, joins the attack.

The party atmosphere did not last long however as the champions lost three wicket for only 34 with Dominic Rhodes among the wickets early on after Easton had dismissed opener Taylor for 0. Captain George Ross decided enough was enough and proceeded to lay about him in great style taking 26 of one over with 4,6,4,4,4,4. He reached 43 off only 19 balls before being dismissed in a most unusual manner. Trying to hit the ball out of the ground, he did not connect, but in his follow through the bat hit his back and fell upon the wicket. So out hit wicket.

Sinclair, the West Indian leg spinner took that wicket and soon proceeded to take two more. Rhodes took another and Harrogate were back struggling again at 104-7. Were they going to end the season with a whimper rather than a bang. Not likely, as pace bowlers Geeson-Brown and Harry Stow put on 32 for the ninth wicket and Stow saw them home to a two wicket victory with a knock of 22 not out. Not for the first time this season the tailenders saw Gate home in a close finish.

Almost there

After the match the Harrogate captain George Ross was presented with the league trophy by President Paul Harrand alongside club Chairman Miles Rawlings. The celebrations began in earnest and the champagne corks popped. Full marks to Harrogate for a consistent season, helped by few team changes and great contributions all round to pip York and Yorkshire Academy for the title.

Champions - Harrogate

Durham relying on Surrey today

posted by John Winn

I have divided my time this week between the same three venues as Tony but not until yesterday did our paths cross when we met in the Headingley Long Room before play. Tony has described events at Harrogate and The Riverside, both of which finished in early victories for the home teams, Yorkshire II and Durham II, the latter becoming Second XI Champions leaving  Middlesex now  runners up for the last two years. What intrigued me about this match was the strength of the team Durham selected and in particular the bowling strength where skipper Weighell had at least 8 options in the twelve named players. Contrast this with Headingley where they have been clearly a seamer short, poor old Onions had bowled twenty overs by 3:00 on the first day, and where skipper Collingwood, a rare visitor to the bowling crease these days, was first change.

My reading of this was that Durham have given higher priority to the SEC than to first division  survival, which is now very much threatened to the extent that they find themselves hoping that  Surrey can  bat all day at The Oval  to prevent a Hampshire victory: a victory, which together with their almost certain defeat at Headingley would leave Durham in the relegation places. One's dismay at this turn of events can be moderated to a degree by the knowledge that Durham have a game in hand, against Surrey at home next week, but then will face Hampshire in Southampton in the last round of matches. Sir Alex Ferguson had a term for this.

How has this come about? On August 6th Durham needed just 46 runs on the last morning with four wickets in hand to beat Somerset at Taunton, a win that would have seen them go top of the table, in 17 horrifying minutes they were bowled out for six runs, since when batting points have been a very rare commodity, just five having been won in the four matches played. This poor form  has been set against a constant stream of rumours emerging from The Riverside about which players will be leaving at the end of the season. As far back as July 26th opener Mark Stoneham announced he favoured the Prince of Wales' Feathers to the Prince Bishops and had signed a contract taking him to The Oval next year. As he left the field after his dreadful dismissal yesterday I remarked to my friend John Gawthrope that next time Yorkshire supporters saw him he (Stoneman) would be wearing a brown cap. The unkindest cap of all.

Scott Borthwick is the other major player in the gossip maelstrom, his name having been linked to a number of counties. The position seems to be that if Durham stay up he will stay, if relegated he will go. How does that affect your state of mind when batting? Chance to find out at Headingley today. I texted another friend during the tea interval to say that Durham looked like a team not only going to lose to Yorkshire but to be relegated as well. There will have to be a massive uplift in spirit before Surrey come to The Riverside on Monday otherwise they may find themselves having to go to Hants on September 20th needing to win. In which case, Goodnight Vienna.

So reasons to be cheerful are in short supply but of course I have rather oversimplified the relegation issue, it is not a three horse race, Notts, Hants, Durham, for both Warwickshire and Lancashire, especially the former, are far from  secure and meet at Edgbaston in the last round. And in the meantime there is the prospect of a terrific day at Trent Bridge today where Middlesex need 187 to win with seven wickets in hand. Five Live Sports Extra for me.

Durham II closing in on Middlesex II on Wednesday.

Yorkshire second eleven trounce Scotland

Posted by Tony Hutton

This was a scheduled three day friendly at St Georges Road, Harrogate between Yorkshire second XI and Scotland A which started on Tuesday 6th Sepember with Scotland being bowled out cheaply for 120 due mainly to a good performance from Will Rhodes, back from his loan period at Essex, who took 5-43. Yorkshire got their noses in front but lost four wickets in the process.

I turned up after lunch on day two as it looked very much as if this game would not go into day three. On arrival nine Yorkshire wickets were down with Matthew Fisher just  having reached 50. He was joined by last man Ben Coad with the total 280-9, Ed Barnes having made a valuable 65 to get Yorkshire out of trouble.

Fisher then took over the proceedings hitting fifteen fours and one six and managing to put on 66 for the last wicket with Coad, who made only eight. With Fisher on 96 not out and a century there for the taking, he unwisely gave Coad the strike for the last ball of a Neill over. Poor Coad was struck on the pad and given out lbw, leaving Fisher distraught at being stranded just short of his century. However a splendid effort by this ever improving young all rounder. Yorkshire 346 all out.

Sunshine at Harrogate

Fisher, who else, opened the bowling and dismissed Shah for only eight before hitting captain Coleman on the helmet and forcing him to retire hurt. He did not return, but the other opener Jones with 46 and good contributions from Greaves, Henry, Flack and Carnegie prolonged the inevitable. However a reasonable score of 162-5 soon became 184 all out following the introduction of the two Yorkshire spinners Carver and Shutt.
Carver took 4-34 and Shutt 3-17 and the game finished soon after five o'clock on day two. Yorkshire won by an innings and 42 runs.

Durham 2nd XI win Championship title

Posted by Tony Hutton

Tuesday 6th September was day one, of a potentially four day match, for the second XI championship final at Emirates Riverside, Chester le Street between Durham and Middlesex. The smallish crowd enjoyed a wonderful day in the sunshine, possibly one of the best weather days ever encountered by me over the last twenty years of visiting this venue.

Durham batted first against a Middlesex side which included a few well known players and several unknowns, including two Sri Lankans. The most well known being James Harris who last season took nine wickets in an innings against Durham first team at Lord's. They also had the Irish international Stirling, England under 19s captain Holden, former Gloucester bowler Fuller and highly rated left arm spinner Ravi Patel.

Hickey was the first man out for 20 and then Cameron Steel, who used to play for Middlesex but after playing for Durham University has now joined Durham, batted through till lunch together with Trevaskis. The latter sounds like a Cornishman, but in fact is a Cumbrian from Carlisle. Steel played like a man who knew it was a four day match and progressed slowly but steadily until the interval when Trevaskis was out to the final ball of the morning. Durham 100-2.

Paul Coughlin, with some first team experience behind him, joined Steel and the two stayed together throughout the afternoon session. Couglin started cautiously but gradually increased the scoring rate before cutting loose later in the day. Steel remained his rather obdurate self and after Couglin completed a splendid hundred, Steel got stuck in the nervous nineties and was out for 95. By then the total was 315-3 and the pair had put together a partnership of 215.

Coughlin and Steel not out at tea

The excellent entertainment continued in the early evening sunshine and Durham had reached the 400 mark before the close, with Couglin still not out. During the afternoon session a strange incident took place when the Sri Lankan Walallawita came on to bowl. His first and only delivery was a no ball and he collapsed in a heap at the bowling crease with a leg injury. The ball went for four byes, so six runs were scored. After a long delay he left the field limping with the Middlesex support staff in attendance. On their way back to the pavilion, there was a further delay when the physio appeared to pull the wicketkeeper's dislocated finger back into place.

Walallawita collapses after bowling just one ball

50 extras on the board with more to come

The finger injury did not prevent young Lace continuing to keep wicket, but he was obviously in discomfort for the rest of the day and conceeded a good number of byes which helped take the extras total beyond the fifty mark. Three wickets fell quickly just before the close, but the following morning Coughlin continued on his merry way before he was the last man out (run out in fact) for a massive 231. He received good support from wicketkeeper Hurst with 36 but not much from his younger brother who was out for nought. Durham eventually all out for 504. Extras 74!

Coughlin goes to his century

I was not there on days two and three but the home side were able to winkle Middlesex out for 202 in the first innings and then after enforcing the follow on (something unknown to Yorkshire) for185 in the second innings to win by an innings and 117 runs inside three days. James Harris top scored with 53 not out first time round and the Irishman Stirling had 86 in the second innings. Best bowlers for Durham were Arshad with 4-35 in the first innings and 17 year old Liam Trevaskis was the star second time round with his slow left armers taking 6-31.
Congratulations to Durham - worthy second eleven champions.

Yorkshire Academy win the Fisher family challenge

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 4th September and the Yorkshire Leagues cup final, the first involving the new format of north and south divisions, took place at the neutral venue of Low Catton Road, Stamford Bridge. For the uniniated, and any southern readers, this is the one in North Yorkshire with no connection to the one in west London.

After yesterday's complete wash out in all league cricket in Yorkshire it was with some apprehension we set off in threatening skies wondering how much damage yesterday's rain might have done. However, although the start had been put back half an hour at the request of Sheriff Hutton Bridge to 12.30 a prompt start was on the cards as soon as we arrived. This give us time to visit the memorial to the famous battle of Stamford Bridge of 1066, the 950th anniversary of which will be celebrated later this month.

Yorkshire Academy won the toss and batted first. As reported two weeks ago from Scarborough opening batsman Harry Brook is certainly the man in form and today he scored yet another century, this time an innings of 119, and putting on a match winning partnership with Matthew Waite of 133 for the second wicket. This followed the early dismissal of Ben Ainsley and Waite was eventually out for 63 off only 88 balls. Left arm spinner Karl Carver, whose brother was at Lord's helping Sessay win the Village trophy, was by far the most economical bowler with 1-36 off ten overs.

Harry Brook returns to the pavilion after another century

Skipper Jordan Thompson had a useful partnership with Brook and then another with Matthew Fisher, who could have played for either side having started his career with Sheriff Hutton Bridge. The Bridge had his two brothers in their side and a large number of family members were there to support both sides. After a swiftly compiled 28 Matthew tried a fancy reverse sweep and was caught at third man off the bowling of brother Mark to great hilarity all round amongst the Fisher clan.

With a final total of 282-6 the Academy were in the box seat. They might have got over 300 hundred but for the damp condition of the outfield at the start. The black clouds gradually drifted away and the final stages of the game were played in bright sunshine in front of good crowd, with the Bridge's supporters easily outnumbering the handful of regular Academy followers.

The Fisher family feud continued almost immediately when Matthew got revenge on brother Mark by having him caught behind for only one. Sam Anthony also fell early to Matthew Waite, also caught behind by Jonathan Read who had a good game behind the stumps. So 16-2 and the Bridge were up against it, but Foxton and skipper Adam Fisher put on 50 for the third wicket and briefly had them back in the game.

Matthew Fisher watches brother Adam batting

When Thompson bowled Foxton and soon afterwards off spinner Shutt dismissed both Pinder and former Academy player Karl Carver, the Bridge were really in trouble on
88-5. They managed to bounce back again as Adam Fisher played an excellent captain's innings of 54 until he was out to a catch on the boundary by Ed Barnes, yet another former Bridge player. That made it 137-7 and the innings petered out rapidly after that with the pace of Matthew Fisher destroying the tail with three men clean bowled. So Sheriff Hutton Bridge 152 all out in 38.2 overs and Matthew Fisher's analysis of 5-20 certainly giving him family bragging rights if not man of the match which rightly went to Harry Brook.

Matthew Fisher leads the Academy in at the end of the game

The cup winners

 

Back:- Hussain, Shutt, Barnes, Fisher, Logan, Read

Front:- Waite, Brooke, Thompson, Imtiaz, Ainsley

Some matters decided

posted by John Winn

Despite Saturday's awful weather which just about wiped out all league cricket a number of issues were sorted out over the week end, silverware was won and lost and some clubs won promotion while watching it rain.

The Village Cup
Despite last year's winners, Woodhouse Grange, being ineligible North Yorkshre kept its grip on the Village Cup when Sessay resoundingly defeated Kent outfit Sibton Park at Lord's yesterday. In the process records were set both for individual and team batting records.

Despite conditions that might have been thought to favour seam bowling, Sessay, as is their wont chose to bat on winning the toss. The innings was dominated by Simon Mason whose knock of 138 equalled the highest score made in a Lord's final and Mason now sits alongside Viv Richards in the record books. He shared a partnership of 150 with Nick Harrison who hit 69 and the innings closed on 307 for 5, a record for the final of the cup. Sibton made a decent start but the loss of four wickets in ten overs took the game away from tem and they were dismissed for 188, a deficit of 117 runs.

Atkinson Swires Cup

Despite a few showers a good size crowd assembled at Lightmire Lane yesterday to see the final of the Nidderdale League's senior ko competition when Ouseburn CC hosted the match between Spofforth and Darley.

Darley batted first and on the usual good OCC batting strip posted 205 with Australian Brad Stephens going to his hundred shortly before the innings closed. Jamie Roberts took 3 for 21 and the feeling amongst the cognoscenti around was that Darley's weakened attack would find it difficult to defend their total. And so it proved with a first wicket stand of 155 between Nick Robinson going a long way towards settling matters and even the loss of 2 wickets for 1 run did not really suggest an upset and Spofforth were seen home in pleasant evening sunshine by Bottega and Roberts. Two sixes from the former set us home to our traditional Sunday evening g and t with almost eight overs to spare.

Given that Darley had lost a match earlier in the competition but then were reinstated when it emerged that Harrogate III had fielded an ineligible player it was perhaps justice that Spofforth should lift the silverware and in any case they were clearly the better team on the day. During the tea interval the league first division trophy was presented to Ouseburn skipper Dave Cummins, a fine reward for his first season in charge.

Yorkshire Premier Leagues

With just one more round of matches to play two of the semi finalists are now known for the games to be played on September 17th. The winners of Yorkshire North, Harrogate. will take on the winners of Yorkshire South, Wakefield Thornes at Scarborough The other semi final, to be played at Headingley on the same day will be between the champions of the Bradford League and the highest placed Yorkshire team in the NYSD. These two positions are currently held by Pudsey SL  and Great Ayton but that may change on Saturday. Let's hope for a fine day so that things are settled on the field of play.

York Senior League

Saturday's rain almost entirely washed out the penultimate round of matches in the York and District league on Saturday but the two sides to be promoted to ECB Premier status are now known with Easingwold and Clifton Alliance assured of the top two positions. Alliance hold an eight point lead over Easingwold and will be favourites to take the title when they take on Beverley Town this week. These two clubs will take the place of Castleford and Dunnington who have struggled to get out of the relegation spot all season.

Finally Wetherby,who chose to make a Wexit from the Wetherby League,have found the going tough winning just two matches in Galtres Division Two and will be relegated. At the top of this division the one promotion place is between Ripon and Pannal. They meet in the last match of the season at Pannal this week with Ripon 16 points clear but in a league where a win can bring 30 points there is much to play for.

Relegation battle at Riverside

Posted by Tony Hutton

Travelled north on the first of September for the relegation battle between Nottinghamshire and Durham at Riverside, Chester le Street. Notts look firm favourites to go down but Durham are still on the fringes of the relegation zone and needed the points to retain their first division status. This was day two and yesterday Notts had the best of it bowling the home side out for 244 thanks mainly to Harry Gurney, the left arm seamer, who tok 6-61. In reply Notts were going well with 129-2.

On a bright sunny morning Jake Libby on 51 and Michael Lumb on 68 continued the Notts innings. They started well and it came as a bit of a surprise when Lumb was caught at slip by Borthwick off Onions for 82. The Zimbabwean Brendan Taylor looked out of form, as indeed he did at Scarborough last week, and was dismissed by McCarthy for only five at 186-4. Enter Samit Patel who gave good support to Jake Libby who was going about his business quietly but efficiently.

Jake Libby - career best for Notts

Libby is an interesting character, a rather small man, as was well illustrated when Luke Fletcher joined him at the crease a bit later. He came to Notts from Cornwall, where he had played Minor Counties cricket, but is not as many believe a Cornishman as he was born in Plymouth, Devon. He made a century on county championship debut some two years ago now, but has never really cemented a regular place. However today he took control and made a career best 144, holding the innings together in confident style. He looked as though he would carry his bat through the innings but was in fact last man out with the score on 313.

By then Read, Wood and Fletcher had all gone cheaply with good new ball bowling from Onions and Rushworth, but Imran Tahir, promoted to number ten, played confidently and made a useful thirteen, before fellow spinner Borthwick had him caught by Jack Burnham. Libby followed soon after and Notts were no doubt happy with a first innings lead of sixty nine as it clouded over during the afternoon. Durham just edged ahead before the close and ended on 83-3 in a somewhat perilous position. However Jennings looked in good touch and was joined just before the end by nightwatchman Onions.

The following day, when I was not present, saw the redoubtable Onions outstay his welcome, batting in all for two and a quarter hours to reach a career best of 65 (previous best 41 v Yorkshire in 2007). He shared in a partnership of 162 with Jennings, whose innings of 171 not out had one scribe suggesting him as a possible for the winter tour to Bangladesh, despite his South African origins. Durham were able to declare on 385-8 but sadly Saturday's rain meant no play and no result other than match drawn.

Three games in Derbyshire

Posted by Tony Hutton

Wednesday 31st August already, where has the summer gone? Not to worry, still plenty of cricket remains and today was a rare opportunity to travel into Derbyshire for the first time this season with the prospect of three matches to try and fit into the day.

First stop was  the county ground at Derby with a new look, for me anyway, with the new media centre at the racecourse end and the steep terracing transferred to the other side. A good view of the play as Derbyshire took on Gloucestershire in the first day of a county championship match. Good to see Josh Shaw of Yorkshire, on loan with Gloucestershire of course, bowling in a four pronged seam attack. Star of the day was another player with Yorkshire connections, Ben Slater, formerly with Leeds/Bradford University. His century was the backbone of the innings which rather fell away after a good opening partnership with in form Billy Godleman which put on ninety one.

The middle order collapse then saw three wickets fall quickly including the prolific Wayne Madsen for nought. New Zealander Broom helped Slater restore some stability to the innings scoring 36 in a 78 run partnership. Slater was eventually out for 110 with the score on 190-6 and the tailenders managed to cobble together another 52 runs in a final all out score of 242 which seemed somewhat below par. Miles had the best bowling figures with 4-30 of seventeen tidy overs and good to see some economical spin bowling from Jack Taylor, who has remodelled his action since I last saw him.

Derby's new media centre with threatening black clouds.

 

At tea time for a change of scene with Derbyshire second XI taking on Notts second XI just a few miles up the road at the very pleasant Copper Yard ground of Darley

cricket club. We found that Notts had been bowled out in the morning for only 84 and Derby were building up a lead on the first day of a three day friendly match.

 

Pleasant scene at Darley with Derby seconds batting.

 

Clarke and Smit, the wicketkeeper, were on course for a century partnership before Smit was lbw for 59. Clarke carried on to make a century himself in the warm early evening sunshine. It later transpired that Joshua Clark is an Australian from New South Wales, where he has played for the state under 17s and under 23s. He has been playing league cricket for the Derbyshire side Ockbrook and Borrowash. Greg Cork, son of Dominic joined Clarke to take the Derby lead beyond the hundred mark. Once again we bumped into John Abrahams on scouting duty for England under 19s and were able to tell him of Harry Brooks's excellent century at Scarborough last week.

 

Long evening shadows at Darley

 

Just about time left to squeeze in a third game being played just up the road at Marehay, a new ground for me. Fortunately had done a little research on directions in advance and was rewarded with the sight of MCC in whitewash on the stone gate post, with a track leading down the attractive good sized ground, the Maryfield.

Durham under 19s had batted for most of the first day of this two day match in the six counties competition and made a useful 307. Derby had lost an early wicket in reply and were trying to play out time in the final overs against a very attacking field.

 

Marehay pavilion with attractive flower beds.

 

As usual we found someone we knew in the person of 'Brighouse Dave' who had been there all day basking topless in the sunshine as is his wont. Another familiar figure was Geoff Cook patrolling the boundary as usual at any Durham match.

 

 

Derby under 19s defend against an attacking field.