posted by John Winn
Monday May 1st Warwickshire v Durham (50 overs) Edgbaston
Yorkshire v Lancashire (50 overs) Headingley
Northants II v Durham II (SET) Milton Keynes
Notts II v Worcestershire II (SET) Oakham School
Leeds/Brad MCCU v Exeter Weetwood
Yorkshire Ladies v Middlesex Ladies Harrogate
Tuesday May 2nd Derbyshire v Notts (50 overs) Derby
Leicestershire v Warwickshire (50 overs) Grace Road
Northants II v Durham II (SEC) Milton Keynes
MCC YC v Yorks II (SET) Merchant Taylors' School
Durham MCCU V Exeter Racecourse, Durham City
Wednesday May 3rd Yorks v Durham (50 overs) Headingley
MCC YC V Yorks II (SEC) High Wycombe
Durham MCCU V Loughborough Racecourse
Friday May 5th Durham v Leicestershire (50 overs) South Northumberland
Lancs v Northants (50 overs) Liverpool
Worcestershire v Yorkshire (50 overs) New Road
Varsity T20 match - Leeds University v Leeds Beckett (Weetwood)
Sunday May7th Durham v Northants (50 overs) Riverside
Notts v Leicestershire (50 overs) Welbeck CC
Yorkshire v Derbyshire (50 overs) Headingley
Cumberland v Lincs (MCKO) Penrith
Atkinson Swires Cup Round 1
Harrogate v Elsecar (National Club KO)
Monday May8th Durham II v Notts II (SET) Riverside
Lancs II v Northants II Northop Hall
Yorks II V Warwickshire II (SET) York
Durham MCCU V Leeds/Brad MCCU BUCS 1 day (Racecourse)
Tuesday May 9th Durham II v Notts II (SEC) Riverside
Yorks II v Warwickshire II (SEC) Harrogate
Durham MCCU v Leeds/Brad MCCU (2 days) (Racecourse)
Yorks over 60s v Durham over 60s (Masham)
Wednesday May 10th Lancs v Worcestershire (50 over) OT
Northants v Yorks (50 overs) Wantage Road
Leeds University v Edinburgh University Weetwood
Thursday May 11th Notts v Durham (50 overs) Trent Bridge
Grammar School at Leeds v MCC Alwoodley Gates
Friday May 12th Lancs v Derbyshire (50 overs) Blackpool
Sunday May 14th Notts v Lancs (50 overs) Trent Bridge
Worcestershire v Durham (50 overs) New Road
Lincolnshire v Norfolk (MCKO) Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln
Village Cup and National Club KO matches
Heavy Woollen Cup Round Two
Yorkshire Ladies v Lancashire Ladies (Harrogate)
Monday May 15th Notts II v Warwickshire II (SEC) Notts Sports Club
Leicester II v Yorkshire II (SET) Lutterworth
Tuesday May 16th Derbyshire v Worcestershire (50 overs)
Durham v Lancs (50 overs)
Yorks v Leics (50 overs) Headingley
Lancs II v Durham II (SET) Bowden CC
Lancs over 60s v Yorks over 60s Heywood
Wednesday May 17th Ampleforth College v MCC
Yorkshire over 50s v Notts over 50s (venue not known)
Thursday May 18th Headingley Evening League matches start
Friday May 19th Lancs v Yorks (CC) Old Trafford
Derbyshire v Worcestershire (CC) Derby
Durham II v Yorks II (SET) Brandon
Sunday May 21st Sussex v Durham (CC) Hove
Northumberland v Lincs (MCKO) Jesmond
Cumberland v Norfolk (MCKO) Netherfield
Monday May 22nd Durham II v MCC YC (SET) Riverside
Tuesday May 23rd Lancs II v Worcestershire II (SEC) Northern CC, Crosby
Durham II v Leicester II (SEC) Riverside
Wednesday May 24th England v South Africa (ODI) Headingley
Thursday May 25th Derbyshire v Leicestershire (CC) Derby
Friday May 26th Glamorgan v Durham (CC) Swansea
Notts v Glos (CC) Trent Bridge
Saturday May 27th Yorkshire v South Africa A Headingley
Sunday May 28th Village Cup Round 3
Monday May 29th Derbyshire v South Africa A Derby
Yorkshire League North & South full league programmes
Tuesday May 30th Leics II v Yorks II SEC) Kibworth
Yorks Under 17s v Durham Under 17s (1 day) Weetwood
Abbreviations - CC county championship (4 days)
SEC second XI championship (3 days)
SET second XI trophy (1 day)
MCKO minor counties knock out (1 day)
Saturday, 29 April 2017
Tuesday, 25 April 2017
More National KO news
posted by John Winn
Tony's account of the thrilling National KO match he saw on Sunday made me realise that I had been remiss in not drawing the attention of our readers to the start of the 2017 competition. Too busy fuming over Hampshire perhaps but by way of catch up Group 1 (North East and North Yorkshire) saw wins for Barnard Castle over Dunnington, Driffield beat Brandon, Scarborough beat Benwell Hill and Stockton were too good for Stamford Bridge. In Group Two Cleethorpes got home in the last over v Chesterfield, Elsecar were much too strong for South Kirkby and Woodhouse Grange gave Grimsby Town a fearful pasting with a winning margin of over 200 runs.
Some of the big guns including last year's winners South Northumberland had byes and Tony has mentioned that Sheriff Hutton Bridge's reward for Sunday's win is a trip to Newcastle to beard the champions in their lair. Other interesting games in Round 2, scheduled for May 14th, include Chester le Street v Scarborough, York v Driffield and Sheffield Collegiate v Woodhouse Grange.
The Cricketer Village Cup gets underway this Sunday although a paucity of entries means in some areas there are no matches until Round Two on May 14th. In Yorkshire there are however fixtures in all areas and these can be found at nationalvillagecup.com.
Blessed by mainly dry, if at times cold weather, the county championship has got up a decent head of steam and two thirds of counties have played three matches. Surrey head Div 1 with their two recruits from Durham, Stoneman and Borthwick, having scored over 550 runs between them. Close behind them are Lancashire who enjoyed an excellent fourth day at Old Trafford yesterday with a win over Somerset who in contrast to last September when they were squeezed out of the title on the last day of the season now find themselves bottom of the table, four points behind Warwickshire who have played a game more. The only newcomers to the top table, Essex will be pleased with their start which sees them undefeated after three games and a win under their belts. Their game with Middlesex was the commentary match on Five Live Sports Extra yesterday with the excellent Kevin Howells in charge, bad light thwarted the champions here with Essex eight down when the game was called off. Yorkshire largely thanks to Ballance's runs and Coad's wickets are just a point behind Essex.
Notts and Kent are setting a fierce pace in Division Two with three wins from their three games. Northants and Worcestershire have two wins each which in another year might have seen them in the top two but leaves them off the pace at the moment. Durham are over 100 points behind Notts but do have a game in hand.
If the interesting cricket that has been played has whetted your appetite for more then you will have to contain yourself for a while for the day after tomorrow balls and clothing change colour when there are six matches in the 50 over competition and championship cricket puts its feet up until May 19th. Safe your breath John, nobody's listening.
Tony's account of the thrilling National KO match he saw on Sunday made me realise that I had been remiss in not drawing the attention of our readers to the start of the 2017 competition. Too busy fuming over Hampshire perhaps but by way of catch up Group 1 (North East and North Yorkshire) saw wins for Barnard Castle over Dunnington, Driffield beat Brandon, Scarborough beat Benwell Hill and Stockton were too good for Stamford Bridge. In Group Two Cleethorpes got home in the last over v Chesterfield, Elsecar were much too strong for South Kirkby and Woodhouse Grange gave Grimsby Town a fearful pasting with a winning margin of over 200 runs.
Some of the big guns including last year's winners South Northumberland had byes and Tony has mentioned that Sheriff Hutton Bridge's reward for Sunday's win is a trip to Newcastle to beard the champions in their lair. Other interesting games in Round 2, scheduled for May 14th, include Chester le Street v Scarborough, York v Driffield and Sheffield Collegiate v Woodhouse Grange.
The Cricketer Village Cup gets underway this Sunday although a paucity of entries means in some areas there are no matches until Round Two on May 14th. In Yorkshire there are however fixtures in all areas and these can be found at nationalvillagecup.com.
Blessed by mainly dry, if at times cold weather, the county championship has got up a decent head of steam and two thirds of counties have played three matches. Surrey head Div 1 with their two recruits from Durham, Stoneman and Borthwick, having scored over 550 runs between them. Close behind them are Lancashire who enjoyed an excellent fourth day at Old Trafford yesterday with a win over Somerset who in contrast to last September when they were squeezed out of the title on the last day of the season now find themselves bottom of the table, four points behind Warwickshire who have played a game more. The only newcomers to the top table, Essex will be pleased with their start which sees them undefeated after three games and a win under their belts. Their game with Middlesex was the commentary match on Five Live Sports Extra yesterday with the excellent Kevin Howells in charge, bad light thwarted the champions here with Essex eight down when the game was called off. Yorkshire largely thanks to Ballance's runs and Coad's wickets are just a point behind Essex.
Notts and Kent are setting a fierce pace in Division Two with three wins from their three games. Northants and Worcestershire have two wins each which in another year might have seen them in the top two but leaves them off the pace at the moment. Durham are over 100 points behind Notts but do have a game in hand.
If the interesting cricket that has been played has whetted your appetite for more then you will have to contain yourself for a while for the day after tomorrow balls and clothing change colour when there are six matches in the 50 over competition and championship cricket puts its feet up until May 19th. Safe your breath John, nobody's listening.
Monday, 24 April 2017
National club knock out starts with a classic
Posted by Tony Hutton
Plans for Sunday 23rd April changed quite rapidly. Originally Trent Bridge was the favoured destination, but Sussex laid down and died in two days so that was a non-starter. There were several games in the National club knock out including Scarborough versus Benwell Hill from the North East, but reports of recent weekend traffic chaos on the A64 ruled that one out. So we decided on another club knock out game a bit closer to home and not far from yesterday's trip. Sheriff Hutton Bridge, a few miles north of York, were taking on Richmondshire also from North Yorkshire with two strong looking sides.
The visitors batted first and opened with Gary Pratt, once of Durham, now captain of Cumberland Minor Counties. He opened with wicketkeeper Mike Layfield, who set about the bowling from the start in a pinch hitter role. He hit five fours in just eighteen balls before he was caught for 25. He had outscored his partner at that point but as soon as he was out Pratt took control. He straight drove left arm spinner Carver for two sixes and ended his first spell after just three overs. Batsmen came and went but Pratt dominated proceedings for almost the rest of the innings.
The Richmondshire skipper scored a splendid 121, which included two sixes and ten fours before he was out to a stunning low, diving catch by Yorkshire's Karl Carver. The score then was 238-6 and the visitors eventually ended their forty five overs with a good total of 251-8. The home side took several excellent catches but also managed to drop a couple of easier ones.
The Bridge did not start their reply too well, losing two wickets early on and falling quite a bit behind the scoring rate. Opener Mark Fisher, brother of Yorkshire's Matthew, held things together well with a sound innings of 60, but when he was out at 145-4 they were well behind the required rate. Enter a recent newcomer to the club, none other that Oliver Grayson, son of Paul now coaching Durham University and Yorkshire Ladies. Oliver is studying at Leeds University and made his debut for the Bridge yesterday.
He played a match winning innings of 67, watched by proud grandad Adrian, and in partnership with Karl Carver put on ninety runs in very quick time. Carver became the six hitting hero as he raced to fifty off just thirty four balls and Bridge were very much back in the game. When both were out with the target almost achieved it was left to the two tailenders Russell Robinson and wicketkeeper Ben Gill to keep their cool with seven to win off the last two balls of the match. Gill finished the game in style with a four and a two to bring the scores level. Sheriff Hutton Bridge go through to the next round as they lost one fewer wicket. What a game - roll on the next round in three weeks time when the Bridge will face South Northumberland away.
Plans for Sunday 23rd April changed quite rapidly. Originally Trent Bridge was the favoured destination, but Sussex laid down and died in two days so that was a non-starter. There were several games in the National club knock out including Scarborough versus Benwell Hill from the North East, but reports of recent weekend traffic chaos on the A64 ruled that one out. So we decided on another club knock out game a bit closer to home and not far from yesterday's trip. Sheriff Hutton Bridge, a few miles north of York, were taking on Richmondshire also from North Yorkshire with two strong looking sides.
New season and new pavilion extension at SHB.
The visitors batted first and opened with Gary Pratt, once of Durham, now captain of Cumberland Minor Counties. He opened with wicketkeeper Mike Layfield, who set about the bowling from the start in a pinch hitter role. He hit five fours in just eighteen balls before he was caught for 25. He had outscored his partner at that point but as soon as he was out Pratt took control. He straight drove left arm spinner Carver for two sixes and ended his first spell after just three overs. Batsmen came and went but Pratt dominated proceedings for almost the rest of the innings.
Gary Pratt starts to dominate the scoring and below in full flow.
The Richmondshire skipper scored a splendid 121, which included two sixes and ten fours before he was out to a stunning low, diving catch by Yorkshire's Karl Carver. The score then was 238-6 and the visitors eventually ended their forty five overs with a good total of 251-8. The home side took several excellent catches but also managed to drop a couple of easier ones.
Gary Pratt goes to his century and eventually departs for 121.
The Bridge did not start their reply too well, losing two wickets early on and falling quite a bit behind the scoring rate. Opener Mark Fisher, brother of Yorkshire's Matthew, held things together well with a sound innings of 60, but when he was out at 145-4 they were well behind the required rate. Enter a recent newcomer to the club, none other that Oliver Grayson, son of Paul now coaching Durham University and Yorkshire Ladies. Oliver is studying at Leeds University and made his debut for the Bridge yesterday.
Olly Grayson
Karl Carver
He played a match winning innings of 67, watched by proud grandad Adrian, and in partnership with Karl Carver put on ninety runs in very quick time. Carver became the six hitting hero as he raced to fifty off just thirty four balls and Bridge were very much back in the game. When both were out with the target almost achieved it was left to the two tailenders Russell Robinson and wicketkeeper Ben Gill to keep their cool with seven to win off the last two balls of the match. Gill finished the game in style with a four and a two to bring the scores level. Sheriff Hutton Bridge go through to the next round as they lost one fewer wicket. What a game - roll on the next round in three weeks time when the Bridge will face South Northumberland away.
Clifton fall just short but Ouseburn do the double.
posted by John Winn
Like Tony I was in at the start of the new season in Yorkshire Premier North on Saturday but my watching began a few miles down the A19 at Clifton Park in York where the other promoted team, Clifton Alliance, welcomed Scarborough to their lovely ground. Scarborough, once the big boys of the league, finished just one place off relegation last year and Clifton must have felt they had been dealt a reasonable first hand.
Taking shelter from a northerly breeze I was in position to see the umpire throw the cherry to Scarborough's opening bowler, Jack Holt, a couple of minutes before the appointed start time of twelve noon and as early as the second over overseas player Jack Beath was on his way back to the pavilion followed in the next over by Hayden Bradley who played an August shot in April and was caught at mid on. 10 for 2 and time to dig in and count the extras as Kristian Wilkinson set off on his quest to bowl ten no balls in the innings, something he achieved and to which he added a wide. Before I left after an hour's play Drewery and Gilham had mounted a rescue and with skipper Hopkinson coming in at five hitting 47 CACC were all out for 196. I spent my time in the company of George Drewery, father of Greg and secretary of Londesbrorough Park CC from where his son has been recruited. Dad would be very pleased with his son's 58 on debut.
The excellent league website shows that Scarborough initially made a very poor fist of getting the runs and at 94 for 7 Clifton must have thought an opening win was in the bag. Good partnerships for the eighth and ninth wickets saw the East Coast men recover, 67 for Ben Elvidge and 54 not out for Holt and they crossed the line with a couple of overs to spare.
Next stop Easingwold and a catch up with Tony and Jennifer and to watch the Academy recovery Tony has described. The Academy 's innings was over shortly after three o'clock, a little early for tea and I started back towards the Lower Ure Valley using a route which took me through Alne where Ouseburn, with several new faces and under new skipper Adam Fisher, were in the field against the hosts. A chance to chat to Jim Rose, Ouseburn's chairman and he filled me in on some of the new players. Particularly impressive was Ben Mackrill, ex Goldsborough, who took 3 for 12 off 9 overs and was at the crease when the winning runs were hit, 49 for evergreen Sam Parker and 44 for Fisher and a seven wicket win to start the new campaign.
Via the Aldwark toll bridge I headed for Lightmire Lane where it was tea time with Alne II having made 193 for 6 off their 45 overs. Ouseburn's reply started slowly, too slowly for some of the watchers but 68 for Ben Jones and a run a ball 74 for Harry Hartley Metcalf and an undefeated stand of 131 between these two saw OCC home by five wickets and four overs unused.
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, the best for two weeks and with the prospect of chilly times in the week ahead I forsook cricket to do some gardening whilst listening to commentary online on the Hampshire v Yorkshire match. This was not good for the blood pressure as the smug Hampshire based commentators showed no embarrassment about their team's reprieve from relegation last year and not even the disclosure that over 80% of their wickets this season have been taken by South Africans disturbed their equanimity. Bah humbug. And don't mention the ECB's 'resting policy', either to me or Joe Root.
Like Tony I was in at the start of the new season in Yorkshire Premier North on Saturday but my watching began a few miles down the A19 at Clifton Park in York where the other promoted team, Clifton Alliance, welcomed Scarborough to their lovely ground. Scarborough, once the big boys of the league, finished just one place off relegation last year and Clifton must have felt they had been dealt a reasonable first hand.
Taking shelter from a northerly breeze I was in position to see the umpire throw the cherry to Scarborough's opening bowler, Jack Holt, a couple of minutes before the appointed start time of twelve noon and as early as the second over overseas player Jack Beath was on his way back to the pavilion followed in the next over by Hayden Bradley who played an August shot in April and was caught at mid on. 10 for 2 and time to dig in and count the extras as Kristian Wilkinson set off on his quest to bowl ten no balls in the innings, something he achieved and to which he added a wide. Before I left after an hour's play Drewery and Gilham had mounted a rescue and with skipper Hopkinson coming in at five hitting 47 CACC were all out for 196. I spent my time in the company of George Drewery, father of Greg and secretary of Londesbrorough Park CC from where his son has been recruited. Dad would be very pleased with his son's 58 on debut.
The excellent league website shows that Scarborough initially made a very poor fist of getting the runs and at 94 for 7 Clifton must have thought an opening win was in the bag. Good partnerships for the eighth and ninth wickets saw the East Coast men recover, 67 for Ben Elvidge and 54 not out for Holt and they crossed the line with a couple of overs to spare.
Clifton Alliance CC
Next stop Easingwold and a catch up with Tony and Jennifer and to watch the Academy recovery Tony has described. The Academy 's innings was over shortly after three o'clock, a little early for tea and I started back towards the Lower Ure Valley using a route which took me through Alne where Ouseburn, with several new faces and under new skipper Adam Fisher, were in the field against the hosts. A chance to chat to Jim Rose, Ouseburn's chairman and he filled me in on some of the new players. Particularly impressive was Ben Mackrill, ex Goldsborough, who took 3 for 12 off 9 overs and was at the crease when the winning runs were hit, 49 for evergreen Sam Parker and 44 for Fisher and a seven wicket win to start the new campaign.
Via the Aldwark toll bridge I headed for Lightmire Lane where it was tea time with Alne II having made 193 for 6 off their 45 overs. Ouseburn's reply started slowly, too slowly for some of the watchers but 68 for Ben Jones and a run a ball 74 for Harry Hartley Metcalf and an undefeated stand of 131 between these two saw OCC home by five wickets and four overs unused.
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, the best for two weeks and with the prospect of chilly times in the week ahead I forsook cricket to do some gardening whilst listening to commentary online on the Hampshire v Yorkshire match. This was not good for the blood pressure as the smug Hampshire based commentators showed no embarrassment about their team's reprieve from relegation last year and not even the disclosure that over 80% of their wickets this season have been taken by South Africans disturbed their equanimity. Bah humbug. And don't mention the ECB's 'resting policy', either to me or Joe Root.
Sunday, 23 April 2017
Yorkshire League North gets underway
Posted by Tony Hutton
Saturday 22nd April and a big day for Easingwold cricket club. Founded as far back as 1829 they won promotion last season from the York Senior League to the Yorkshire Premier League North. This was their first game at this level and quite appropriate that they should have the Yorkshire Academy as their first opponents at this pleasant and spacious ground at Back Lane, Easingwold which is an attractive market town north of York.
Jonathan Read, normally a wicketkeeper, opened the batting in the absence of Harry Brook who was busy scoring a century for Sedbergh School. However Read did not last long being bowled by Postill for just four. Jared Warner and Imtiaz also went cheaply to give Easingwold an excellent start with the Academy 54-3. Fortunately opener Ben Ainsley looked in good form and he got his head down to play the innings of the day.
Skipper Jordan Thompson gave Ainsley good support for a while, but when he was out bowled by veteran Redshaw a clatter of wickets followed with three of them falling to Sargent who took 3-22. The Academy were almost down and out at 105-8, but enter James Logan not known for his batting prowess, but a very useful left arm spin bowler.
Today was to prove his day with the bat as he managed to stay around to give Ainsley support and then started to play some excellent shots himself. The pair put on an unbroken partnership of 92 to take the visitors to respectability with a final score of 197-8.
The final stages of the innings were all about whether Ainsley could complete an unlikely century, he was almost there in the last over but unfortunately lost the strike when what looked like just a single for Logan was misfielded on the boundary and went for four. He regained the strike for the fifth ball but could only manage a single, so Logan ended the innings with a fine straight six and Ainsley was left stranded on 99 not out. Nevertheless a match winning innings.
Easingwold were soon in trouble against the pace of Taylor and Barnes, who both looked too quick for the early batsmen. This is what stepping up a league is all about. It was soon 27-3 and despite 30 from Waite and 32 from Greenlay, all the Yorkshire bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to reduce Easingwold to 104 all out. Two defiant sixes from Knott off Logan gave the home supporters something to cheer about, but with a middle aged look about some of their players they may find the coming season an uphill struggle. Reinforcements are on the way I understand, including an overseas player, so good luck to them as the season progresses.
Saturday 22nd April and a big day for Easingwold cricket club. Founded as far back as 1829 they won promotion last season from the York Senior League to the Yorkshire Premier League North. This was their first game at this level and quite appropriate that they should have the Yorkshire Academy as their first opponents at this pleasant and spacious ground at Back Lane, Easingwold which is an attractive market town north of York.
Play gets underway at Easingwold.
Spectators enjoying the sunshine at Easingwold
Skipper Jordan Thompson gave Ainsley good support for a while, but when he was out bowled by veteran Redshaw a clatter of wickets followed with three of them falling to Sargent who took 3-22. The Academy were almost down and out at 105-8, but enter James Logan not known for his batting prowess, but a very useful left arm spin bowler.
Today was to prove his day with the bat as he managed to stay around to give Ainsley support and then started to play some excellent shots himself. The pair put on an unbroken partnership of 92 to take the visitors to respectability with a final score of 197-8.
Academy skipper Jordan Thompson on strike.
The final stages of the innings were all about whether Ainsley could complete an unlikely century, he was almost there in the last over but unfortunately lost the strike when what looked like just a single for Logan was misfielded on the boundary and went for four. He regained the strike for the fifth ball but could only manage a single, so Logan ended the innings with a fine straight six and Ainsley was left stranded on 99 not out. Nevertheless a match winning innings.
Cherry blossom in the background as Easingwold start their reply.
Easingwold were soon in trouble against the pace of Taylor and Barnes, who both looked too quick for the early batsmen. This is what stepping up a league is all about. It was soon 27-3 and despite 30 from Waite and 32 from Greenlay, all the Yorkshire bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to reduce Easingwold to 104 all out. Two defiant sixes from Knott off Logan gave the home supporters something to cheer about, but with a middle aged look about some of their players they may find the coming season an uphill struggle. Reinforcements are on the way I understand, including an overseas player, so good luck to them as the season progresses.
Busy three day week
Posted by Tony Hutton
With weather conditions still not ideal for cricket watchers, it was really a matter of keeping moving for our busy three day week between Tuesday 18th April and Thursday 20th April. With yet again two games in Leeds not far apart, at Headingley and Weetwood, it was a question of commuting between the two on Tuesday and Thursday with a day out in North Yorkshire at Richmond inbetween.
First stop Headingley on Tuesday morning where Yorkshire 2nd XI were taking on Gloucester 2nd XI in a three day friendly. The place is always something like the Marie Celeste for such fixtures and the fact that the Yorkshire guide for members suggested the game started the following day meant there were even less people present than normal. John has covered the cause of this problem at some length but the first morning and the last morning were spoilt by endless noise, first as if sitting in a metal scrapyard in the Trueman enclosure while endless seats for the pavilion balcony were being unloaded and then on Thursday very noisy drilling while seats were being put in place. No consideration whatsoever for players or the admittedly few spectators.
Yorkshire batted and lost opener Elliot Callis to the very first ball of the match, when the crowd had barely reached double figures. He wafted at one outside leg stump and was easily caught by wicketkeeper Bracey off the bowling of Mark Taylor. We had already seen Bracey performing well with the bat earlier this season for Loughborough University. Apparently his brother also played for Gloucester a few years ago, but sadly I cannot claim to have seen a pair of Braceys play cricket.
Sanity was restored after the early wicket with a good century partnership between Tattersall and Rhodes both with over 70 to their credit. Nice to see Tattersall back in the fold, even if it is only a very short term contract initially. Rhodes, as we saw at Old Trafford, is already in good form and unlucky not to be in the first team, but with Root and Bairstow making rare appearances on Friday he may have to wait a while. Yorkshire batted on all day to be finally all out for 332, with Jack Leaning needing runs making a solid 64 with useful time at the crease.
During the afternoon we moved on to Weetwood for some peace and quiet
as Leeds/Bradford MCCU were taking on Oxford MCCU in a one day BUCS game. The home side, after their defeat by Cambridge, were very much in control and the star of the show was Middlesex batsman Martin Andersson with a splendid innings of 138 before he was sixth man out with the total already beyond 300. Opener and acting captain Steve Bullen made 50 and Scottish wicketkeeper Craig Wallace 53, before a late order collapse produced an all out score of 344. Tom Heathfield, who has played for Northants was Oxford's best bowler with 4-72.
Wednesday brought a change of scenery at the pleasant Richmondshire CC ground in Richmond, North Yorkshire where Durham Academy were taking on Yorkshire Academy in the first of two one day games. Durham had aleady beaten the Lancashire Academy on this ground the day before and must have been pretty confident. However Yorkshire all rounder Jared Warner, who spent much of last season with an injury which prevented him bowling, has obviously been polishing his batting skills and dominated the Yorkshire innings, ending on 131 not out with thirteen fours and one six.
The other batsmen didn't get much of a look in, apart from newcomer Snooks with 28, until a savage late partnership of 87 in very quick time with Ed Barnes, who made a quick fire 47 not out, really took Durham to the cleaners. Yorkshire ended their 50 overs on 290-5. Durham's reply was very confident indeed with Hewitson and McBride the openers both making fifties and putting on exactly one hundred for the first wicket. With the persistent cold winds blowing we departed mid-afternoon with the game still very much in the balance.
We learned the following day that Yorkshire dismissed Durham for 249 so won by 41 runs. After the two openers were out only Scott Steel with 76 was in the runs and the rest were sunk without trace. Three wickets for newcomer Alec Drury from Driffield as well as two for another youngster Harry Harding. Lots of good talent on show from both sides, showing their ability so early in the season.
A brief return to Headingley on Thursday morning spoilt by the persistent drilling noise from the pavilion balcony which prompted a phone call to the office to complain. A very polite lady answered saying that they only had a very short time scale to put the new seats in (presumably for the one day international), but seemed unimpressed with my comments about the annoyance to both players and the few spectators.
So again it was back to Weetwood for the afternoon where Oxford were bowled out for 214, despite 70 from night watchman Heathfield. Pace bowler Bocking had the best figures with 4-58. Leeds batted again and collected more bonus points with a second innings of 177-8, Scotsman Wallace again in the runs with 78 not out. So 21 points for Leeds/Bradford and only 9 for Oxford.
With weather conditions still not ideal for cricket watchers, it was really a matter of keeping moving for our busy three day week between Tuesday 18th April and Thursday 20th April. With yet again two games in Leeds not far apart, at Headingley and Weetwood, it was a question of commuting between the two on Tuesday and Thursday with a day out in North Yorkshire at Richmond inbetween.
First stop Headingley on Tuesday morning where Yorkshire 2nd XI were taking on Gloucester 2nd XI in a three day friendly. The place is always something like the Marie Celeste for such fixtures and the fact that the Yorkshire guide for members suggested the game started the following day meant there were even less people present than normal. John has covered the cause of this problem at some length but the first morning and the last morning were spoilt by endless noise, first as if sitting in a metal scrapyard in the Trueman enclosure while endless seats for the pavilion balcony were being unloaded and then on Thursday very noisy drilling while seats were being put in place. No consideration whatsoever for players or the admittedly few spectators.
Yorkshire batted and lost opener Elliot Callis to the very first ball of the match, when the crowd had barely reached double figures. He wafted at one outside leg stump and was easily caught by wicketkeeper Bracey off the bowling of Mark Taylor. We had already seen Bracey performing well with the bat earlier this season for Loughborough University. Apparently his brother also played for Gloucester a few years ago, but sadly I cannot claim to have seen a pair of Braceys play cricket.
Sanity was restored after the early wicket with a good century partnership between Tattersall and Rhodes both with over 70 to their credit. Nice to see Tattersall back in the fold, even if it is only a very short term contract initially. Rhodes, as we saw at Old Trafford, is already in good form and unlucky not to be in the first team, but with Root and Bairstow making rare appearances on Friday he may have to wait a while. Yorkshire batted on all day to be finally all out for 332, with Jack Leaning needing runs making a solid 64 with useful time at the crease.
During the afternoon we moved on to Weetwood for some peace and quiet
as Leeds/Bradford MCCU were taking on Oxford MCCU in a one day BUCS game. The home side, after their defeat by Cambridge, were very much in control and the star of the show was Middlesex batsman Martin Andersson with a splendid innings of 138 before he was sixth man out with the total already beyond 300. Opener and acting captain Steve Bullen made 50 and Scottish wicketkeeper Craig Wallace 53, before a late order collapse produced an all out score of 344. Tom Heathfield, who has played for Northants was Oxford's best bowler with 4-72.
Wednesday brought a change of scenery at the pleasant Richmondshire CC ground in Richmond, North Yorkshire where Durham Academy were taking on Yorkshire Academy in the first of two one day games. Durham had aleady beaten the Lancashire Academy on this ground the day before and must have been pretty confident. However Yorkshire all rounder Jared Warner, who spent much of last season with an injury which prevented him bowling, has obviously been polishing his batting skills and dominated the Yorkshire innings, ending on 131 not out with thirteen fours and one six.
Yorkshire Academy batting at scenic Richmond
The other batsmen didn't get much of a look in, apart from newcomer Snooks with 28, until a savage late partnership of 87 in very quick time with Ed Barnes, who made a quick fire 47 not out, really took Durham to the cleaners. Yorkshire ended their 50 overs on 290-5. Durham's reply was very confident indeed with Hewitson and McBride the openers both making fifties and putting on exactly one hundred for the first wicket. With the persistent cold winds blowing we departed mid-afternoon with the game still very much in the balance.
Jared Warner hits out for the Yorkshire Academy.
We learned the following day that Yorkshire dismissed Durham for 249 so won by 41 runs. After the two openers were out only Scott Steel with 76 was in the runs and the rest were sunk without trace. Three wickets for newcomer Alec Drury from Driffield as well as two for another youngster Harry Harding. Lots of good talent on show from both sides, showing their ability so early in the season.
A brief return to Headingley on Thursday morning spoilt by the persistent drilling noise from the pavilion balcony which prompted a phone call to the office to complain. A very polite lady answered saying that they only had a very short time scale to put the new seats in (presumably for the one day international), but seemed unimpressed with my comments about the annoyance to both players and the few spectators.
So again it was back to Weetwood for the afternoon where Oxford were bowled out for 214, despite 70 from night watchman Heathfield. Pace bowler Bocking had the best figures with 4-58. Leeds batted again and collected more bonus points with a second innings of 177-8, Scotsman Wallace again in the runs with 78 not out. So 21 points for Leeds/Bradford and only 9 for Oxford.
Saturday, 22 April 2017
Give us back our missing day
posted by John Winn
In September 1752, when Britain changed its calendar from Julian to Gregorian, there was civil unrest as people demanded the return of the eleven days of their lives they believed they had lost when the date jumped directly from Wednesday 2nd September to Thursday 14th. I was reminded of this on Wednesday when I entered the long room at Headingley for the second day of the friendly between Yorkshire II and Gloucestershire II. Civil unrest? Perhaps not, but some pretty serious grumbling. 11 days? No, just one, but some of the most faithful of the faithful were seriously concerned that they had missed the first day and that a fixture change had been made of which they had not been notified.* Little consolation for them to be told that they had missed some decent batting from Yorkshire, under the captaincy of Jack Leaning, with runs for Rhodes, Tattersall and the skipper. The day had come to a nice clean ending with Yorkshire all out in the last over.
My source for this information was Malcolm Shearsby who had seen most of Tuesday's play and who informed me that the crowd had been in the high thirties, fewer than forty people in a ground that even before the proposed reconstruction holds fifteen thousand. And as is typical of second XI cricket at Headingley there was little in the way of home comforts for the slightly increased numbers who attended on Wednesday. The Kirkstall Lane entrance closed, no scorecards, no refreshments in the long room, no pa, the usual signs that underline the principle on which second XI cricket, other than at out grounds is based, ie nobody watches.
Wednesday's weather was pretty typical of the whole of the week, dry with high pressure in charge but the sun losing its battle to break through thick cloud and cold, double figures Celsius at best. The day's cricket began as had Tuesday's with a wicket in the first over and Gloucestershire's captain Roderick on his way back to the warmth of the dressing rooms, ct Leaning bowled Fisher, 0. 100 minutes passed before another wicket fell and by lunch the West Country men had reached 117 for 2, with Cockbain, son of, unbeaten on 65. During the interval I restored circulation by lapping the ground and was not surprised to hear the fixture change still under discussion.
Cockbain was out shortly after lunch but another good stand developed between Howell and Hankins, the latter having scored just one off his first 45 balls but going on to make a century. Slight drizzle at three o'clock gave me the excuse I had been looking for to set course for home but the Yorkshire website tells me that Gloucestershire declared at tea, 57 behind, a Yorkshire lead that was increased to 124 by stumps, drawn when bad light intervened just after 6:30.
Family duties kept me away from cricket on Thursday and I missed a last ball victory for the visitors by four wickets, a Yorkshire declaration having set them 283 off a minimum of 61 overs. Hankins in the runs again, runs that got him a first team place against Durham yesterday, and he received good support from 'keeper Bracey who was lbw in the last over for 77. Skipper Roderick came in down the order to hit the winning runs.
Saturday morning's weather in the Lower Ure Valley has kept up the pattern of the last few days with overcast skies and a temperature of 7 degrees, But this is a special day in the blog's calendar for it is the day when most league cricket starts and I shall be at Clifton Park for 12 noon when Yorkshire Premier North newcomers Clifton Alliance take on Scarborough and Tony will be not far up A19 at Easingwold, the other promoted club, who host the academy. I will join him at some point before returning home via Alne where my local club Ouseburn start the defence of their Nidderdale league title with a local derby, just six miles apart.
* Second XI annual and the blog have the game starting on April 18th. The YCCC Members' Guide seems to have been the culprit listing the first day as April 19th. With May just around the corner we will be publishing our fixture guide for that month. We will try and get them right!
In September 1752, when Britain changed its calendar from Julian to Gregorian, there was civil unrest as people demanded the return of the eleven days of their lives they believed they had lost when the date jumped directly from Wednesday 2nd September to Thursday 14th. I was reminded of this on Wednesday when I entered the long room at Headingley for the second day of the friendly between Yorkshire II and Gloucestershire II. Civil unrest? Perhaps not, but some pretty serious grumbling. 11 days? No, just one, but some of the most faithful of the faithful were seriously concerned that they had missed the first day and that a fixture change had been made of which they had not been notified.* Little consolation for them to be told that they had missed some decent batting from Yorkshire, under the captaincy of Jack Leaning, with runs for Rhodes, Tattersall and the skipper. The day had come to a nice clean ending with Yorkshire all out in the last over.
My source for this information was Malcolm Shearsby who had seen most of Tuesday's play and who informed me that the crowd had been in the high thirties, fewer than forty people in a ground that even before the proposed reconstruction holds fifteen thousand. And as is typical of second XI cricket at Headingley there was little in the way of home comforts for the slightly increased numbers who attended on Wednesday. The Kirkstall Lane entrance closed, no scorecards, no refreshments in the long room, no pa, the usual signs that underline the principle on which second XI cricket, other than at out grounds is based, ie nobody watches.
Wednesday's weather was pretty typical of the whole of the week, dry with high pressure in charge but the sun losing its battle to break through thick cloud and cold, double figures Celsius at best. The day's cricket began as had Tuesday's with a wicket in the first over and Gloucestershire's captain Roderick on his way back to the warmth of the dressing rooms, ct Leaning bowled Fisher, 0. 100 minutes passed before another wicket fell and by lunch the West Country men had reached 117 for 2, with Cockbain, son of, unbeaten on 65. During the interval I restored circulation by lapping the ground and was not surprised to hear the fixture change still under discussion.
Cockbain was out shortly after lunch but another good stand developed between Howell and Hankins, the latter having scored just one off his first 45 balls but going on to make a century. Slight drizzle at three o'clock gave me the excuse I had been looking for to set course for home but the Yorkshire website tells me that Gloucestershire declared at tea, 57 behind, a Yorkshire lead that was increased to 124 by stumps, drawn when bad light intervened just after 6:30.
Family duties kept me away from cricket on Thursday and I missed a last ball victory for the visitors by four wickets, a Yorkshire declaration having set them 283 off a minimum of 61 overs. Hankins in the runs again, runs that got him a first team place against Durham yesterday, and he received good support from 'keeper Bracey who was lbw in the last over for 77. Skipper Roderick came in down the order to hit the winning runs.
Saturday morning's weather in the Lower Ure Valley has kept up the pattern of the last few days with overcast skies and a temperature of 7 degrees, But this is a special day in the blog's calendar for it is the day when most league cricket starts and I shall be at Clifton Park for 12 noon when Yorkshire Premier North newcomers Clifton Alliance take on Scarborough and Tony will be not far up A19 at Easingwold, the other promoted club, who host the academy. I will join him at some point before returning home via Alne where my local club Ouseburn start the defence of their Nidderdale league title with a local derby, just six miles apart.
* Second XI annual and the blog have the game starting on April 18th. The YCCC Members' Guide seems to have been the culprit listing the first day as April 19th. With May just around the corner we will be publishing our fixture guide for that month. We will try and get them right!
Clifton Alliance CC
Monday, 17 April 2017
Not ideal cricket weather
Posted by Tony Hutton
As John discovered on Saturday plenty of cricket going on but not ideal weather for spectators. Just to bring things up to date following my recent visit to Old Trafford for the second eleven battle of the Roses, the four day friendly game ended in a draw on Thursday. After a rain hit third day, Yorkshire looked to be in a winning position but after five wickets had fallen for seventy runs (four of them to Matthew Waite) Lancashire apparently put up the shutters with a vengeance. In a performance akin to some Roses games of long ago, their second innings lasted for one hundred overs, of which no less than 41 were maidens, for a final total of 185-5. Talk about watching paint dry!
While all this was going on we were back in Yorkshire watching the two day game at Weetwood between Leeds/Bradford and Cambridge Universities. After Cambridge's narrow victory in the one day game on Wednesday, Leeds were very much looking for revenge. However, in atrocious windy conditions on both days, which made watching only possible from the corner of the pavilion or more comfortably in the car, Cambridge came out very much on top yet again.
The home side were probably quite happy to have bowled the visitors out for 233 on the first day, with left arm spinner Holmes from Cheshire taking 4-48 in twenty one tidy overs. They were handicapped by the loss of Harry Stow, the Harrogate bowler, who had to leave the field with a back injury, but still had lots of work to do as twelfth man. No one made a big score for Cambridge, Callum Guest an all rounder from Sussex top scoring with 47.
Leeds started well but from 101-2 with Andersson again going well they subsided once he was out for 45 to 178 all out. Guest had a great spell of spin bowling after lunch taking five wickets for twenty two and demolishing the tail completely. Rippington the left arm pace man took three wickets and Cambridge had won the first innings points.
The batted briskly in their second innings and accumulated more bonus points by scoring 212-6 in just 51 overs. Opener Harrison Palmer, who has played Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire top scored this time round with 52. Holmes again impressed with the ball with four more wickets.
Cambridge finished the game with seventeen points and Leeds/Bradford just seven.
So a poor start to the season for this new look home team with many newcomers who could well take time to settle, but they will be in action again next week with three days of cricket against Oxford University, starting with a one day game on Tuesday, apparently with the usual 12.30 start despite rumours of 11 a.m. Yet another unfortunate clash with Yorkshire 2nd XI playing Gloucester at Headingley for three days.
While John was navigating around Huddersfield on Saturday, we were off up north to Chester-le-Street for the second day of Durham v Nottinghamshire at the Riverside.
A good crowd had already filled the seats in front of the health club, which was the only spot out of the wind, so after an hour or so we retreated to the warmth of the long room. We were lucky to find an excellent spot watching behind glass alongside our good friends Darlo Eddie and our Hartlepool correspondent Mike Taylerson.
Notts had bowled out Durham for 162 on day one, with wicketkeeper Poynter top scoring on 65and were 96-4 overnight which was something of a recovery having been 7-3 at one stage. Patel was soon out this morning and a most unlikely hero emerged in the considerable shape of Luke Fletcher an opening bowler by trade, who had been pressed into service as a night watchman. He batted with the utmost confidence to reach only the fourth fifty of his long first class career. His eminent partners came and went, Patel, Wessels and Read in fact. He was then joined by recent Australian recruit James Pattinson, a fellow bowler who can bat a bit, as he proved in a century partnership with Fletcher.
The big man, although he is said to have shed two stones in weight during the winter, looked more and more fluent until he equalled his previous highest score of 92 and on the verge of his maiden century when sadly tragedy struck. Pattinson pushed the ball out on the leg side, started to come and then sent Fletcher back. He was almost two thirds down the pitch by then and has a turning circle somewhat like an aircraft carrier. At this point he slipped and dropped his bat, got up and raced back to the bowler's end only for Jennings to throw to the bowler, Collingwood, who demolished the stumps and poor Fletch was out. Oh calamity!
By this time Notts were 264-8 and over one hundred runs ahead, so the game was drifting away from Durham, who of course are desperate to make up the points deficit so unjustly inflicted upon them by the E.C.B. Notts continued to add 37 more runs with a partnership between Pattinson, who reached his fifty, and Jake Ball. Rushworth despatched number eleven Harry Gurney without delay but by this time Notts were 305 all out with a commanding lead.
Things soon got even worse when Ball dispatched newcomer Stephen Cook for a duck, caught in the slips, shortly followed by Burnham who was caught behind by Read. 8-2 soon became 24-3 when Fletcher had Richardson lbw and Durham hopes were almost sunk without trace. We took our leave at this depressing point, but last year's outstanding performer Keaton Jennings was still there so still a faint hope of recovery.
Earlier in the day our lunchtime walk, risking life and limb trying to cross the busy dual carriageway, took us to Ropery Lane the home of Chester le Street cricket club, who were opening the North East Premier league season with a game against Whitburn. Nice to see the ground where Durham played some of their earliest fixtures before nearby Riverside was built. It looked spick and span with new tarmac paths and seating round the ground.The home side were batting and doing well with opening bat Davis on his way to a century, but eventually the game ended in a draw.
As John discovered on Saturday plenty of cricket going on but not ideal weather for spectators. Just to bring things up to date following my recent visit to Old Trafford for the second eleven battle of the Roses, the four day friendly game ended in a draw on Thursday. After a rain hit third day, Yorkshire looked to be in a winning position but after five wickets had fallen for seventy runs (four of them to Matthew Waite) Lancashire apparently put up the shutters with a vengeance. In a performance akin to some Roses games of long ago, their second innings lasted for one hundred overs, of which no less than 41 were maidens, for a final total of 185-5. Talk about watching paint dry!
While all this was going on we were back in Yorkshire watching the two day game at Weetwood between Leeds/Bradford and Cambridge Universities. After Cambridge's narrow victory in the one day game on Wednesday, Leeds were very much looking for revenge. However, in atrocious windy conditions on both days, which made watching only possible from the corner of the pavilion or more comfortably in the car, Cambridge came out very much on top yet again.
Leeds/Bradford MCCU ready for action.
Tetley and Palmer the openers for Cambridge.
The home side were probably quite happy to have bowled the visitors out for 233 on the first day, with left arm spinner Holmes from Cheshire taking 4-48 in twenty one tidy overs. They were handicapped by the loss of Harry Stow, the Harrogate bowler, who had to leave the field with a back injury, but still had lots of work to do as twelfth man. No one made a big score for Cambridge, Callum Guest an all rounder from Sussex top scoring with 47.
Cambridge all out for 233.
Leeds started well but from 101-2 with Andersson again going well they subsided once he was out for 45 to 178 all out. Guest had a great spell of spin bowling after lunch taking five wickets for twenty two and demolishing the tail completely. Rippington the left arm pace man took three wickets and Cambridge had won the first innings points.
The batted briskly in their second innings and accumulated more bonus points by scoring 212-6 in just 51 overs. Opener Harrison Palmer, who has played Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire top scored this time round with 52. Holmes again impressed with the ball with four more wickets.
Cambridge finished the game with seventeen points and Leeds/Bradford just seven.
So a poor start to the season for this new look home team with many newcomers who could well take time to settle, but they will be in action again next week with three days of cricket against Oxford University, starting with a one day game on Tuesday, apparently with the usual 12.30 start despite rumours of 11 a.m. Yet another unfortunate clash with Yorkshire 2nd XI playing Gloucester at Headingley for three days.
While John was navigating around Huddersfield on Saturday, we were off up north to Chester-le-Street for the second day of Durham v Nottinghamshire at the Riverside.
A good crowd had already filled the seats in front of the health club, which was the only spot out of the wind, so after an hour or so we retreated to the warmth of the long room. We were lucky to find an excellent spot watching behind glass alongside our good friends Darlo Eddie and our Hartlepool correspondent Mike Taylerson.
View from the long room at Riverside
Notts had bowled out Durham for 162 on day one, with wicketkeeper Poynter top scoring on 65and were 96-4 overnight which was something of a recovery having been 7-3 at one stage. Patel was soon out this morning and a most unlikely hero emerged in the considerable shape of Luke Fletcher an opening bowler by trade, who had been pressed into service as a night watchman. He batted with the utmost confidence to reach only the fourth fifty of his long first class career. His eminent partners came and went, Patel, Wessels and Read in fact. He was then joined by recent Australian recruit James Pattinson, a fellow bowler who can bat a bit, as he proved in a century partnership with Fletcher.
The big man, although he is said to have shed two stones in weight during the winter, looked more and more fluent until he equalled his previous highest score of 92 and on the verge of his maiden century when sadly tragedy struck. Pattinson pushed the ball out on the leg side, started to come and then sent Fletcher back. He was almost two thirds down the pitch by then and has a turning circle somewhat like an aircraft carrier. At this point he slipped and dropped his bat, got up and raced back to the bowler's end only for Jennings to throw to the bowler, Collingwood, who demolished the stumps and poor Fletch was out. Oh calamity!
The disconsolate Fletcher returns to the pavilion
By this time Notts were 264-8 and over one hundred runs ahead, so the game was drifting away from Durham, who of course are desperate to make up the points deficit so unjustly inflicted upon them by the E.C.B. Notts continued to add 37 more runs with a partnership between Pattinson, who reached his fifty, and Jake Ball. Rushworth despatched number eleven Harry Gurney without delay but by this time Notts were 305 all out with a commanding lead.
Things soon got even worse when Ball dispatched newcomer Stephen Cook for a duck, caught in the slips, shortly followed by Burnham who was caught behind by Read. 8-2 soon became 24-3 when Fletcher had Richardson lbw and Durham hopes were almost sunk without trace. We took our leave at this depressing point, but last year's outstanding performer Keaton Jennings was still there so still a faint hope of recovery.
Earlier in the day our lunchtime walk, risking life and limb trying to cross the busy dual carriageway, took us to Ropery Lane the home of Chester le Street cricket club, who were opening the North East Premier league season with a game against Whitburn. Nice to see the ground where Durham played some of their earliest fixtures before nearby Riverside was built. It looked spick and span with new tarmac paths and seating round the ground.The home side were batting and doing well with opening bat Davis on his way to a century, but eventually the game ended in a draw.
Chester le Street pavilion at Ropery Lane
Riverside floodlights from nearby Ropery Lane
Sunday, 16 April 2017
April showers in Huddersfield
posted by John Winn
It has been a winter of change in Huddersfield cricket. The demise of the Central League and the dispersal of its member clubs has been described on the blog, and yesterday, sticking to its tradition of opening the season on the third Saturday in April, the enlarged league began with a full programme of matches. Alerted to this by our Golcar correspondent, and with nearly all other league cricket not beginning until next Saturday, a visit to some new grounds in postcodes HD4 and HD5 had been inked in my diary for some weeks.
First port of call was Armitage Bridge and a slight disagreement with the sat nav meant I arrived just too late to see what was probably the first dismissal of the season as one of Thongsbridge's openers trudged back to the pavilion. 0 for 1 and a winter's hopes and dreams for one batsman put on hold for another week at least. Although the ground is in something of a hollow and surrounded by trees the westerly wind had a chilling edge and brought with it some spots of rain. I was not inclined to linger and certainly not unpack the deckchair and hamper but stayed long enough to see Thongsbridge mount a recovery which the league website this morning shows amounted to 189 for 8, revised* to 176. The hosts fell short 8 runs short of the revised score in this Premier section match.
From Armitage Bridge it is a short drive but a steep climb to Hall Bower, 180 metres above sea level, with fine views but very exposed to the wind and with only one spectator hardy enough to sit outside the pavilion. The fare here was Championship Two, Hall Bower II v Birkby Rose Hill II with the visitors at the crease and two experienced openers making good progress. The scoreboard offered the minimum information, runs scored and overs left, but my septuagenarian brain eventually worked out which was which before a sharp shower drove me to the car.The players, made
of stouter stuff carried on. At 69, a fielder whose previous efforts had suggested a little early season rustiness, brought off a surprisingly athletic catch at point to break the partnership, cue for me to move on. The result of the game is not yet available on the website.
A change of postcode, HD5, instead of 4, but another relatively short drive, brought me to the ground of Almondbury Wesleyans and a deserted field but with wickets pitched. Simple explanation, visitors Clayton West had been bowled out for 75 off 18.5 overs (A Smith 5 for 10) and tea was being taken. 'Tea' hardly does the refreshments on offer justice, splendid fare including hot soup, a pasta dish and cakes decorated for the paschal festival set an early marker for tea of the year. A cup of tea and a piece of cake consumed in the most impressive pavilion passed the time nicely between innings and from the comfort of the car I watched the Wesleyan openers get off to a good start. 41 without loss when I left and the website shows an eight wicket win for the home side in this Championship match
.
Next stop Almondbury and tea time here too. A Conference match between Almondbury and Thurstonland and the visitors all out for 122.** Almondbury's openers made a confident start but a fierce squall drove the players from the field and me in pursuit of my fifth and last venue of the day, Lascelles Hall, one of those grounds which I could see from a distance but couldn't quite work out how to access until a helpful walker put me right. The delay meant that my arrival coincided with the tea interval yet again but only very briefly as visitors Holmfirth began their reply to Lascelles 190. Some useful left arm over bowling brought an early wicket and it looked like an uphill struggle for Holmfirth. The weather seemed more settled now but for whatever reason this Championship match is listed as 'late result' on the website as I type (10:30, Sunday).
An easy journey home on a sunny evening and five new grounds visited made a good start to my league cricket watching for the season. Any readers in the North East who share my concern that the match at The Riverside may be over before the Yorkshire puddings have risen may like to consider some league cricket watching this afternoon in that area with matches in the NYSD Sunday Division. 11 games in all, venues easily accessible from the website.
* I suspect something akin to Duckworth and Lewis at work here but will seek clarification
** Almondbury won by 7 wickets A Kamran 70 not out
It has been a winter of change in Huddersfield cricket. The demise of the Central League and the dispersal of its member clubs has been described on the blog, and yesterday, sticking to its tradition of opening the season on the third Saturday in April, the enlarged league began with a full programme of matches. Alerted to this by our Golcar correspondent, and with nearly all other league cricket not beginning until next Saturday, a visit to some new grounds in postcodes HD4 and HD5 had been inked in my diary for some weeks.
Armitage Bridge roller by Pattissons of Stanmore
From Armitage Bridge it is a short drive but a steep climb to Hall Bower, 180 metres above sea level, with fine views but very exposed to the wind and with only one spectator hardy enough to sit outside the pavilion. The fare here was Championship Two, Hall Bower II v Birkby Rose Hill II with the visitors at the crease and two experienced openers making good progress. The scoreboard offered the minimum information, runs scored and overs left, but my septuagenarian brain eventually worked out which was which before a sharp shower drove me to the car.The players, made of stouter stuff carried on. At 69, a fielder whose previous efforts had suggested a little early season rustiness, brought off a surprisingly athletic catch at point to break the partnership, cue for me to move on. The result of the game is not yet available on the website.
A change of postcode, HD5, instead of 4, but another relatively short drive, brought me to the ground of Almondbury Wesleyans and a deserted field but with wickets pitched. Simple explanation, visitors Clayton West had been bowled out for 75 off 18.5 overs (A Smith 5 for 10) and tea was being taken. 'Tea' hardly does the refreshments on offer justice, splendid fare including hot soup, a pasta dish and cakes decorated for the paschal festival set an early marker for tea of the year. A cup of tea and a piece of cake consumed in the most impressive pavilion passed the time nicely between innings and from the comfort of the car I watched the Wesleyan openers get off to a good start. 41 without loss when I left and the website shows an eight wicket win for the home side in this Championship match
.
Dark clouds over Almondbury Wesleyans
Next stop Almondbury and tea time here too. A Conference match between Almondbury and Thurstonland and the visitors all out for 122.** Almondbury's openers made a confident start but a fierce squall drove the players from the field and me in pursuit of my fifth and last venue of the day, Lascelles Hall, one of those grounds which I could see from a distance but couldn't quite work out how to access until a helpful walker put me right. The delay meant that my arrival coincided with the tea interval yet again but only very briefly as visitors Holmfirth began their reply to Lascelles 190. Some useful left arm over bowling brought an early wicket and it looked like an uphill struggle for Holmfirth. The weather seemed more settled now but for whatever reason this Championship match is listed as 'late result' on the website as I type (10:30, Sunday).
An easy journey home on a sunny evening and five new grounds visited made a good start to my league cricket watching for the season. Any readers in the North East who share my concern that the match at The Riverside may be over before the Yorkshire puddings have risen may like to consider some league cricket watching this afternoon in that area with matches in the NYSD Sunday Division. 11 games in all, venues easily accessible from the website.
* I suspect something akin to Duckworth and Lewis at work here but will seek clarification
** Almondbury won by 7 wickets A Kamran 70 not out
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Yorkshire youngsters pressing for places
Posted by Tony Hutton
Ben Coad's impressive performance for Yorkshire against Hampshire has obviously not gone unnoticed. Some of his young colleagues in the second XI have been quick to make their mark as Martyn Moxon has already called for the youngsters to press for places. On the first day of a four day friendly between Lancashire seconds and Yorkshire seconds at Old Trafford on Monday it was James Wainman, yet another opening bowler prospect who took the headlines with 5-42. He was aided and abetted by young wicketkeeper Jonathan Read, who could get a first team call if anything happens to Andrew Hodd, the current deputy for starved of cricket Johnny Bairstow.
Read took five catches and a stumping which augurs well for the future.
I was at Old Trafford yesterday to see Yorkshire recover well from loosing two early wickets to spinner Kerrigan overnight. Lancashire were bowled out for 257 and Yorkshire finished day one on 31-2 with Callis and Willey already out. Will Rhodes and Johnny Tattersall started day two confidently and Tattersall had made a tidy 36 before he was out caught behind at 110-3. Matthew Waite joined Rhodes and after a quiet start began to play his shots. Rhodes had gone quickly to fifty off fifty balls without really hitting out and continued to play in a very solid fashion all day.
The very small crowd sheltered from the persistent wind underneath the Point and when the cloud cleared and the sun came out in the afternoon session it was very pleasant indeed. Kerrigan, who was captaining Lancashire, did not bring himself on to bowl until quite late in proceedings, but he then captured the important wicket of Waite for 64 after a partnership of 133 with Rhodes. Gibson made 35 including six fours and Matthew Fisher 32 as Yorkshire were approaching 400 by the close with Rhodes on 170 not out.
So a good day all round for Yorkshire and a shame that rain prevented play until after tea on day three of this four day match. However given a dry day tomorrow, Yorkshire will be confident of forcing a victory. I must comment on my dislike for all the modern architecture which now surrounds this historic field. It is not to my taste and the way the old pavilion has been submerged, the noise from the hotel building site and even the lukewarm coffee is enough to suggest this will be my last ever visit.
Apart from a few blustery showers early on it was a dry day at Weetwood today but the strong westerly wind made conditions for players and the few spectators very uncomfortable. About half an hour was lost to the rain and with a 12.30 start it meant we were heading for a very late finish.We could only watch from the warmth of the car as Cambridge MCCU batted first against Leeds/Bradford MCCU in this one day BUCS trophy game. Cambridge had not fared well in their games against the first class counties but put up a much better show today.
Akil Greenidge, the West Indian, was top scorer with 66, which contained only three fours, but he held the innings together in good partnerships with Palmer and Guest. Three wickets fell to run outs and it was good to see three spinners bowl their full compliment of ten overs each. Cambridge made a very good total of 260-8 in their fifty overs.
Leeds/Bradford lost four of their five top order batsman cheaply and were struggling at 79-4, but opening bat Martin Andersson, from Middlesex, played a fine innings and kept the home side in the game with a splendid century. He was unfortunately caught on the long on boundary immediately after getting to a hundred and the loss of more quick wickets made Cambridge favourites. An unlikely last wicket partnership of nineteen put Leeds back in with a chance and only eleven were needed off the last over. When Taylor bowled a no ball it was down to nine off four balls but Bocking going for a big hit was caught on the boundary and Cambridge won by eight runs at 7.20 p.m. Everyone was delighted to return to the pavilion, out of the wind which had blown fiercely all day without respite.
The bell at Old Trafford
Ben Coad's impressive performance for Yorkshire against Hampshire has obviously not gone unnoticed. Some of his young colleagues in the second XI have been quick to make their mark as Martyn Moxon has already called for the youngsters to press for places. On the first day of a four day friendly between Lancashire seconds and Yorkshire seconds at Old Trafford on Monday it was James Wainman, yet another opening bowler prospect who took the headlines with 5-42. He was aided and abetted by young wicketkeeper Jonathan Read, who could get a first team call if anything happens to Andrew Hodd, the current deputy for starved of cricket Johnny Bairstow.
Read took five catches and a stumping which augurs well for the future.
The Old Trafford pavilion looks even worse than Headingley's.
I was at Old Trafford yesterday to see Yorkshire recover well from loosing two early wickets to spinner Kerrigan overnight. Lancashire were bowled out for 257 and Yorkshire finished day one on 31-2 with Callis and Willey already out. Will Rhodes and Johnny Tattersall started day two confidently and Tattersall had made a tidy 36 before he was out caught behind at 110-3. Matthew Waite joined Rhodes and after a quiet start began to play his shots. Rhodes had gone quickly to fifty off fifty balls without really hitting out and continued to play in a very solid fashion all day.
Will Rhodes in the runs at Old Trafford
The very small crowd sheltered from the persistent wind underneath the Point and when the cloud cleared and the sun came out in the afternoon session it was very pleasant indeed. Kerrigan, who was captaining Lancashire, did not bring himself on to bowl until quite late in proceedings, but he then captured the important wicket of Waite for 64 after a partnership of 133 with Rhodes. Gibson made 35 including six fours and Matthew Fisher 32 as Yorkshire were approaching 400 by the close with Rhodes on 170 not out.
The scoreboard tells the story
So a good day all round for Yorkshire and a shame that rain prevented play until after tea on day three of this four day match. However given a dry day tomorrow, Yorkshire will be confident of forcing a victory. I must comment on my dislike for all the modern architecture which now surrounds this historic field. It is not to my taste and the way the old pavilion has been submerged, the noise from the hotel building site and even the lukewarm coffee is enough to suggest this will be my last ever visit.
I think many of us would say 'No' to all of this
Apart from a few blustery showers early on it was a dry day at Weetwood today but the strong westerly wind made conditions for players and the few spectators very uncomfortable. About half an hour was lost to the rain and with a 12.30 start it meant we were heading for a very late finish.We could only watch from the warmth of the car as Cambridge MCCU batted first against Leeds/Bradford MCCU in this one day BUCS trophy game. Cambridge had not fared well in their games against the first class counties but put up a much better show today.
Akil Greenidge, the West Indian, was top scorer with 66, which contained only three fours, but he held the innings together in good partnerships with Palmer and Guest. Three wickets fell to run outs and it was good to see three spinners bowl their full compliment of ten overs each. Cambridge made a very good total of 260-8 in their fifty overs.
Leeds/Bradford lost four of their five top order batsman cheaply and were struggling at 79-4, but opening bat Martin Andersson, from Middlesex, played a fine innings and kept the home side in the game with a splendid century. He was unfortunately caught on the long on boundary immediately after getting to a hundred and the loss of more quick wickets made Cambridge favourites. An unlikely last wicket partnership of nineteen put Leeds back in with a chance and only eleven were needed off the last over. When Taylor bowled a no ball it was down to nine off four balls but Bocking going for a big hit was caught on the boundary and Cambridge won by eight runs at 7.20 p.m. Everyone was delighted to return to the pavilion, out of the wind which had blown fiercely all day without respite.
Monday, 10 April 2017
Headingley post script
posted by John Winn
The feeling in the Long Room over pre match coffee at Headingley yesterday was that while it is unusual for teams to get the highest score of the match in the fourth innings, especially in a winning cause, it was not beyond possibility that Hampshire might get the 320 they needed. Support for this came from the idea that well as Coad had bowled on Friday and Saturday it was too much to expect that a young bowler would do as well in the second innings and that Yorkshire might increasingly regret the absence of as many as five injured seamers and the 'resting' Rashid. 'We need early wickets' was the rallying cry as we took our places amongst what seemed like the largest crowd of the three days in the North East Upper stand.
And early wickets was what we should have had for had Lyth, of all people, dropped one that he had been wearing his pinny would have lodged in the pocket, and Handscomb put down a harder one in the gully, two incidents that should have seen the Hampshire openers back in the pavilion with barely twenty on the board. 71 runs later Carberry holed out at long leg but another 69 were added before the third wicket fell. Two solid partnerships and two more to come and with only Ervine failing, consistency right down the order saw Hants' needing only one over of the extra half hour. Coad drew the short straw in being asked to bowl it and a four and a six saw us on our way at 6:30.
It would be churlish not to mention Yorkshire's mid afternoon moments, especially a caught and bowled by Coad and an even better one by Bresnan which changed the mood of my texts from one which at 14:40 included the word 'despondent' but by tea time spoke of lifted spirits albeit with Hants slight favourites. Alas that was as good as it got. Balance had done all that could be expected of him with the bat I think he might have gambled a little more with his bowlers. Patterson bowled 39 overs in the match but remained wicketless, but his parsimony was preferred to Rafiq's spin.
As I left the ground it occurred to me that defeat meant that Yorkshire had now lost three successive championship matches. A check in my shiny new Wisden revealed my suspicion to be correct, when did they last happen? Yorkshire now face three away trips starting at Egbaston on Friday, to face a Bears team that will be smarting from their stuffing at The Oval. Tony has drawn attention to the cockamamie fixture list that means that it will be almost eight weeks before championship cricket returns to Headingley. My next cricket will be at The Riverside on Friday when Durham start the task of paying off a 48 point deficit with probably the toughest opponents, Notts, as visitors. After which it will be June before there is further championship cricket at Chester le Street, but in that interval Durham will have visited Bristol, Hove and Swansea, very convenient for the travelling supporter.
The feeling in the Long Room over pre match coffee at Headingley yesterday was that while it is unusual for teams to get the highest score of the match in the fourth innings, especially in a winning cause, it was not beyond possibility that Hampshire might get the 320 they needed. Support for this came from the idea that well as Coad had bowled on Friday and Saturday it was too much to expect that a young bowler would do as well in the second innings and that Yorkshire might increasingly regret the absence of as many as five injured seamers and the 'resting' Rashid. 'We need early wickets' was the rallying cry as we took our places amongst what seemed like the largest crowd of the three days in the North East Upper stand.
And early wickets was what we should have had for had Lyth, of all people, dropped one that he had been wearing his pinny would have lodged in the pocket, and Handscomb put down a harder one in the gully, two incidents that should have seen the Hampshire openers back in the pavilion with barely twenty on the board. 71 runs later Carberry holed out at long leg but another 69 were added before the third wicket fell. Two solid partnerships and two more to come and with only Ervine failing, consistency right down the order saw Hants' needing only one over of the extra half hour. Coad drew the short straw in being asked to bowl it and a four and a six saw us on our way at 6:30.
It would be churlish not to mention Yorkshire's mid afternoon moments, especially a caught and bowled by Coad and an even better one by Bresnan which changed the mood of my texts from one which at 14:40 included the word 'despondent' but by tea time spoke of lifted spirits albeit with Hants slight favourites. Alas that was as good as it got. Balance had done all that could be expected of him with the bat I think he might have gambled a little more with his bowlers. Patterson bowled 39 overs in the match but remained wicketless, but his parsimony was preferred to Rafiq's spin.
As I left the ground it occurred to me that defeat meant that Yorkshire had now lost three successive championship matches. A check in my shiny new Wisden revealed my suspicion to be correct, when did they last happen? Yorkshire now face three away trips starting at Egbaston on Friday, to face a Bears team that will be smarting from their stuffing at The Oval. Tony has drawn attention to the cockamamie fixture list that means that it will be almost eight weeks before championship cricket returns to Headingley. My next cricket will be at The Riverside on Friday when Durham start the task of paying off a 48 point deficit with probably the toughest opponents, Notts, as visitors. After which it will be June before there is further championship cricket at Chester le Street, but in that interval Durham will have visited Bristol, Hove and Swansea, very convenient for the travelling supporter.
Eventful three days in Leeds
Posted by Tony Hutton
As previously mentioned an unfortunate clash of fixtures within about two and half miles of each other meant a difficult choice on Friday morning 7th April. The opening home match of the Leeds/Bradford MCCU season at Weetwood started simultaneously with Yorkshire's first championship match of the season at Headingley just down the road.
Of course as far as I was concerned there was no contest and I automatically joined about twelve other hardy souls in the cold and breezy surroundings of Weetwood to see the new intake of students take on a full strength Worcestershire side. The visitors were raring to go and we got our usual cheerful greeting from batting coach Kevin Sharp, the former Yorkshire batsman. They put the University in to bat largely one thought to test the fitness of John Hastings their overseas signing from Australia who has been suffering with injuries in the winter season down under.
Opening day of the season at Weetwood
Hastings however did not open the bowling, which was shared by new captain Joe Leach, a former player with Leeds/Bradford, and a relative newcomer local lad Josh Tongue who is 6 foot 5 inches tall. Tongue it was who took the first wicket early on and then Hastings got rid of acting captain Steve Bullen when he joined the attack.
Andersson, the Middlesex man, made top score of 33 and only some late hitting by Max McIver and Dan Houghton added respectability to the all out score of 162. Hastings looked good and had tidy figures of 2-26, with Shantry 3-36 and Tongue a promising 2-22. By this time we had departed down the road to Headingley with the news that Yorkshire had been put into bat by Hampshire and had already lost both
openers before lunch.
New Australian signing Hanscomb was also out for 25 clean bowled by Fidel Edwards and Yorkshire then lost a whole clutch of wickets in quick succession. Leaning went for seven and unusually both Tim Bresnan and Andrew Hodd went for ducks and Yorkshire were 132-6 and in considerable difficulties. West Indian Edwards and South African Abbott did most of the damage. Fortunately new skipper Gary Ballance came to the rescue with a faultless century, never looking in trouble until bowled by Liam Dawson on 258-8. Steve Patterson gave him excellent support his thirty seven not out helping put on a century partnership with Ballance.
Yorkshire's all out total of 273 seemed a little below par but when Hampshire batted during the final session young paceman Ben Coad came to the party with a vengeance taking five wickets, all big name batsmen - Carberry, Adams, Vince, Rossouw and Ervine. Hampshire looked in tatters on 58-5.
Meanwhile back at Weetwood, despite the early loss of Mitchell, Worcester were piling up the runs with 82 from Brett D'Olivera and 64 from Tom Fell to end the day on 156-2. Fortunately the early morning cold and cloudy weather had turned to glorious evening sunshine and Weetwood looked a pretty picture with freshly painted sight screens, a brand new boundary rope extended to the farthest reaches of this large ground and an excellent pitch prepared by award winning groundsman Richard Robinson.
The sunshine continued on Saturday and this time a morning at Headingley in the hope of seeing Hampshire's foreign legion finished off rapidly. Ben Coad soon got his sixth wicket to dismiss Abbott. Bresnan then chipped in to stop thoughts of Coad getting all ten by having Dawson lbw and the Yorkshire vice captain also had Berg caught at slip by Lyth to make Hampshire 75-8. Then we saw some resistance from young wicket keeper McManus, who had a good record with the bat last season, including a first class century.
McManus looked more confident than the early batsman and stuck around for almost two hours for a most valuable 41 not out. He received good support from Wheal with 18 runs at number ten, but when he was bowled by Bresnan, number eleven Fidel Edwards threw his wicket away with a big heave and Hampshire were all out for 141.
So a first innings lead of 132 for Yorkshire. Hampshire just avoided the follow on but Yorkshire would probably not have enforced it anyway. With Lyth and Lees looking in good form initially the Saturday afternoon crowd looked forward to runs galore and a huge lead. Little did they know what was in store.
Anyway back to Weetwood where Worcestershire were piling up a huge score. Clarke had just been out for 109 when we arrived just after lunch, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore, a product of the Yorkshire schools system, and wicketkeeper Ben Cox took the score from 311-4 to 453-4 in very quick time and as soon as Kohler-Cadmore reached his century Worcester declared, with Cox not out 66. Useful batting practice for the visitors with director of cricket Stephen Rhodes, yet another former Yorkshire player, also in attendance.
Runs from Shoare and Andersson helped Leeds/Bradford to an overnight score of 132-4, but the general feeling was that the game would be over around lunchtime on day three.
So it proved with a slightly better performance from the students, helped by 75 not out from the Scotsman Wallace which took them to 249 all out and Worcester won by an innings and 42 runs. So we were able to concentrate our attention on Yorkshire's third day at Headingley on yet another perfect sunny Sunday.
This was championship cricket at it's best with twists and turns as the game went first one way and then the other. The atmosphere was enhanced by the attitude of the substantial crowd who played their part to the full. They applauded first the umpires and then the players on to the field. They applauded maiden overs and good shots by the batsmen equally and even when the expected Yorkshire victory turned into defeat most of them stayed to the bitter end when the extra half hour, of which only five minutes was needed, eventually brought a hard earned victory to Hampshire.What a tragedy, and a kick in the teeth, for such ardent cricket followers that the next championship game at Headingley does not take place until the second day of June!
Plus points for Yorkshire's much weakened side, without not only three Test players missing in Root, Bairstow and Rashid, but three injured bowlers in Sidebottom, Brooks and Plunkett, was the batting of skipper Ballance in both innings and the bowling of Ben Coad, who hopefully can make the break through as a regular first team bowler.
Cynics may complain about the ECB's attitude to Yorkshire's test players in comparison to some from other counties and feel that Hampshire should have been relegated last season, as well as criticising their signing of Kolpak players, but their performance here showed excellent application and a fighting spirit.
It is perhaps too early to talk of them as title contenders, but they have batting in depth, a useful seam attack and the leg-spinner Crane, who did not play here, could turn out to be their secret weapon. Full marks also to wicket keeper Lewis McManus who batted well in both innings and together with Gareth Berg saw Hampshire home at the end with a partnership of fifty eight runs at a time when many other sides would have folded.
After a cold start on Friday morning three days of excellent cricket in the sun, both at Weetwood and Headingley. Long may it continue.
As previously mentioned an unfortunate clash of fixtures within about two and half miles of each other meant a difficult choice on Friday morning 7th April. The opening home match of the Leeds/Bradford MCCU season at Weetwood started simultaneously with Yorkshire's first championship match of the season at Headingley just down the road.
Of course as far as I was concerned there was no contest and I automatically joined about twelve other hardy souls in the cold and breezy surroundings of Weetwood to see the new intake of students take on a full strength Worcestershire side. The visitors were raring to go and we got our usual cheerful greeting from batting coach Kevin Sharp, the former Yorkshire batsman. They put the University in to bat largely one thought to test the fitness of John Hastings their overseas signing from Australia who has been suffering with injuries in the winter season down under.
Hastings however did not open the bowling, which was shared by new captain Joe Leach, a former player with Leeds/Bradford, and a relative newcomer local lad Josh Tongue who is 6 foot 5 inches tall. Tongue it was who took the first wicket early on and then Hastings got rid of acting captain Steve Bullen when he joined the attack.
Joe Leech opens the bowling at Weetwood
Andersson, the Middlesex man, made top score of 33 and only some late hitting by Max McIver and Dan Houghton added respectability to the all out score of 162. Hastings looked good and had tidy figures of 2-26, with Shantry 3-36 and Tongue a promising 2-22. By this time we had departed down the road to Headingley with the news that Yorkshire had been put into bat by Hampshire and had already lost both
openers before lunch.
The players viewing balcony at Headingley
New Australian signing Hanscomb was also out for 25 clean bowled by Fidel Edwards and Yorkshire then lost a whole clutch of wickets in quick succession. Leaning went for seven and unusually both Tim Bresnan and Andrew Hodd went for ducks and Yorkshire were 132-6 and in considerable difficulties. West Indian Edwards and South African Abbott did most of the damage. Fortunately new skipper Gary Ballance came to the rescue with a faultless century, never looking in trouble until bowled by Liam Dawson on 258-8. Steve Patterson gave him excellent support his thirty seven not out helping put on a century partnership with Ballance.
Steve Patterson's immaculate forward defensive shot
Gary Ballance celebrates his century at Headingley
Yorkshire's all out total of 273 seemed a little below par but when Hampshire batted during the final session young paceman Ben Coad came to the party with a vengeance taking five wickets, all big name batsmen - Carberry, Adams, Vince, Rossouw and Ervine. Hampshire looked in tatters on 58-5.
Meanwhile back at Weetwood, despite the early loss of Mitchell, Worcester were piling up the runs with 82 from Brett D'Olivera and 64 from Tom Fell to end the day on 156-2. Fortunately the early morning cold and cloudy weather had turned to glorious evening sunshine and Weetwood looked a pretty picture with freshly painted sight screens, a brand new boundary rope extended to the farthest reaches of this large ground and an excellent pitch prepared by award winning groundsman Richard Robinson.
Worcester pile up the runs at immaculate Weetwood
The sunshine continued on Saturday and this time a morning at Headingley in the hope of seeing Hampshire's foreign legion finished off rapidly. Ben Coad soon got his sixth wicket to dismiss Abbott. Bresnan then chipped in to stop thoughts of Coad getting all ten by having Dawson lbw and the Yorkshire vice captain also had Berg caught at slip by Lyth to make Hampshire 75-8. Then we saw some resistance from young wicket keeper McManus, who had a good record with the bat last season, including a first class century.
McManus looked more confident than the early batsman and stuck around for almost two hours for a most valuable 41 not out. He received good support from Wheal with 18 runs at number ten, but when he was bowled by Bresnan, number eleven Fidel Edwards threw his wicket away with a big heave and Hampshire were all out for 141.
So a first innings lead of 132 for Yorkshire. Hampshire just avoided the follow on but Yorkshire would probably not have enforced it anyway. With Lyth and Lees looking in good form initially the Saturday afternoon crowd looked forward to runs galore and a huge lead. Little did they know what was in store.
Ben Coad leads Yorkshire in after his 6-37
Anyway back to Weetwood where Worcestershire were piling up a huge score. Clarke had just been out for 109 when we arrived just after lunch, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore, a product of the Yorkshire schools system, and wicketkeeper Ben Cox took the score from 311-4 to 453-4 in very quick time and as soon as Kohler-Cadmore reached his century Worcester declared, with Cox not out 66. Useful batting practice for the visitors with director of cricket Stephen Rhodes, yet another former Yorkshire player, also in attendance.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore brings up his century at Weetwood
Groundsman Richard Robinson and assistant into action as Worcester declare
Runs from Shoare and Andersson helped Leeds/Bradford to an overnight score of 132-4, but the general feeling was that the game would be over around lunchtime on day three.
Stephen Rhodes supervising equipment for five minutes slip catching.
So it proved with a slightly better performance from the students, helped by 75 not out from the Scotsman Wallace which took them to 249 all out and Worcester won by an innings and 42 runs. So we were able to concentrate our attention on Yorkshire's third day at Headingley on yet another perfect sunny Sunday.
This was championship cricket at it's best with twists and turns as the game went first one way and then the other. The atmosphere was enhanced by the attitude of the substantial crowd who played their part to the full. They applauded first the umpires and then the players on to the field. They applauded maiden overs and good shots by the batsmen equally and even when the expected Yorkshire victory turned into defeat most of them stayed to the bitter end when the extra half hour, of which only five minutes was needed, eventually brought a hard earned victory to Hampshire.What a tragedy, and a kick in the teeth, for such ardent cricket followers that the next championship game at Headingley does not take place until the second day of June!
Appreciative fans deserve better
Plus points for Yorkshire's much weakened side, without not only three Test players missing in Root, Bairstow and Rashid, but three injured bowlers in Sidebottom, Brooks and Plunkett, was the batting of skipper Ballance in both innings and the bowling of Ben Coad, who hopefully can make the break through as a regular first team bowler.
Cynics may complain about the ECB's attitude to Yorkshire's test players in comparison to some from other counties and feel that Hampshire should have been relegated last season, as well as criticising their signing of Kolpak players, but their performance here showed excellent application and a fighting spirit.
It is perhaps too early to talk of them as title contenders, but they have batting in depth, a useful seam attack and the leg-spinner Crane, who did not play here, could turn out to be their secret weapon. Full marks also to wicket keeper Lewis McManus who batted well in both innings and together with Gareth Berg saw Hampshire home at the end with a partnership of fifty eight runs at a time when many other sides would have folded.
After a cold start on Friday morning three days of excellent cricket in the sun, both at Weetwood and Headingley. Long may it continue.
Thursday, 6 April 2017
Gone to Headingley
posted by John Winn
'The Diglis Hotel
Worcester
27/04/48
Tomorrow another cricket season will start, another touring team-the touring team-Australia, will tease the cricket prophets; another gathering of the camp-followers of cricket will wag their heads and refill their glasses.'
So begins the first chapter of 'Gone to the Test Match' by John Arlott, but how many will feel tonight that excitement Arlott felt as he sipped his claret in Worcester 69 years ago safe in the knowledge that weather permitting, next day, a Wednesday, he would see some of the greatest cricketers ever to have entered the field of play; Bradman, Miller, Lindwall, Morris and a nineteen year old Neil Harvey amongst them.
Where are today's greatest cricketers? Some are in India, playing a form of the game Arlott would have hardly recognised, some are resting and not playing for the counties, and one of the best international teams, South Africa, will not be seen here until late May, a month later than JA saw Australia at New Road. What wouldn't I have given to refill my glass in the Diglis Hotel that late April night in the company of the camp-followers? I could have wagged my head with the best of him.
Tomorrow another county championship begins with my native county bottom of Division Two before the first call of play, but rapidly overhauling Leicestershire who have been deducted 16 points and fined £5,000 for 'repeated player indiscipline'. Chief culprit, 39 year old Charlie Shreck, suspended by Leicestershire for two games, for 'using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or making an obscene gesture'. All in the heat of the moment in last week's 'friendly' against Loughborough MCCU last week. Nice one Charlie, great start to the season.
All the above might suggest my glass is in need of a refill but fear not readers. Wisden and Playfair arrived today, my list for Headingley tomorrow reads 'make sandwiches, don't forget sun hat and cream, avoid the Long Room before play and don't use obscene, offensive or insulting language when Hampshire take the field, and you know why I might be tempted.
Tuesday, 4 April 2017
Yorkshire turn the screw on students
Posted by Tony Hutton
Yorkshire will be happy enough no doubt after giving the students of Leeds/Bradford University a bit of a thrashing. It was glorified net practice for much of the time and hard to criticise the Yorkshire batsman for taking full advantage of the friendly conditions. Many people thought that Adam Lyth could have retired at lunchtime to give the lower order some much needed practice, but the confident left hander batted on towards the record number of double centuries for Yorkshire. Sadly he was thwarted just short of his target when part time bowler Will Cook got one to keep low and hit off stump.
So after Alex Lee's rapid century on Day 1 and Lyth's 194 at a somewhat slower pace the following day, only Elliot Callis missed out being lbw to the perservering Bocking for just 17. New captain Gary Ballance, Jack Leaning after a slow start, and well in form Tim Bresnan all made useful runs and Yorkshire eventually declared on 543-5 scored in 120 overs.
Leeds/Bradford's new look side, with nine newcomers this season had a hard time but will no doubt improve when the University championship comes around in the near future with a game against Cambridge University, who failed to distinguish themselves at all in their game with Lancashire. Before that they have a three day home game with Worcestershire at Weetwood just up the road from Headingley on Friday. Of course there is a most unfortunate clash of fixtures with Yorkshire beginning their first championship match with Hampshire at Headingley on the same day. As I have said many times before the fixture planners have no knowledge of geography whatsoever.
Good to see Richard Damms, the Yorkshire Academy Coach, just back from Sri Lanka with the England under 16s, before the third day when the University resumed a long way behind on 40-0 in front of a sparse crowd under thick cloud cover and temperatures somewhat lower than the previous day's sunshine. Wickets soon fell at regular intervals with good opening spells from Bresnan and Coad, who has done himself no harm at all in this game. Acting captain Steve Bullen made a solid 29 at the top of the order and the Scotland wicketkeeper Craig Wallace, the oldest man in the side, also looks a useful player with a sound 32.
After Bradford Grammar School boy Peter McDermott had been out lbw to Patterson for the second time in the game and Potticary, the wicketkeeper who I understand will play league cricket for Harrogate, was also lbw to the part time spin of Lyth the game was all but over at lunchtime. However as the sun at last broke through in the early afternoon a spirited partnership of 66 between Shropshire lad Will Cook and Lancastrian Dan Houghton provided some entertainment. Cook made top score of 42 and Houghton 29, with four fours and one six.
Azeem Rafiq got a bit of punishment, but took the last three wickets of the innings to finish with 3-50, the best figures yet again came from Tim Bresnan with 3-12 from eight overs. So really a good performance from all the Yorkshire lads with the possible exceptions of Callis and Shaw, who need to put in some good performances in the second eleven. The seconds had a good day at Nottingham yesterday with a century for Matthew Waite and four wickets for James Wainman. Things looking good for when the serious stuff starts on Friday.
 |
| Leeds/Bradford MCCU take the field at Headingley |
Yorkshire will be happy enough no doubt after giving the students of Leeds/Bradford University a bit of a thrashing. It was glorified net practice for much of the time and hard to criticise the Yorkshire batsman for taking full advantage of the friendly conditions. Many people thought that Adam Lyth could have retired at lunchtime to give the lower order some much needed practice, but the confident left hander batted on towards the record number of double centuries for Yorkshire. Sadly he was thwarted just short of his target when part time bowler Will Cook got one to keep low and hit off stump.
Adam Lyth on strike
So after Alex Lee's rapid century on Day 1 and Lyth's 194 at a somewhat slower pace the following day, only Elliot Callis missed out being lbw to the perservering Bocking for just 17. New captain Gary Ballance, Jack Leaning after a slow start, and well in form Tim Bresnan all made useful runs and Yorkshire eventually declared on 543-5 scored in 120 overs.
One tired wicketkeeper and umpire as the score reaches 500
Leeds/Bradford's new look side, with nine newcomers this season had a hard time but will no doubt improve when the University championship comes around in the near future with a game against Cambridge University, who failed to distinguish themselves at all in their game with Lancashire. Before that they have a three day home game with Worcestershire at Weetwood just up the road from Headingley on Friday. Of course there is a most unfortunate clash of fixtures with Yorkshire beginning their first championship match with Hampshire at Headingley on the same day. As I have said many times before the fixture planners have no knowledge of geography whatsoever.
Afternoon sunshine on day two.
Good to see Richard Damms, the Yorkshire Academy Coach, just back from Sri Lanka with the England under 16s, before the third day when the University resumed a long way behind on 40-0 in front of a sparse crowd under thick cloud cover and temperatures somewhat lower than the previous day's sunshine. Wickets soon fell at regular intervals with good opening spells from Bresnan and Coad, who has done himself no harm at all in this game. Acting captain Steve Bullen made a solid 29 at the top of the order and the Scotland wicketkeeper Craig Wallace, the oldest man in the side, also looks a useful player with a sound 32.
After Bradford Grammar School boy Peter McDermott had been out lbw to Patterson for the second time in the game and Potticary, the wicketkeeper who I understand will play league cricket for Harrogate, was also lbw to the part time spin of Lyth the game was all but over at lunchtime. However as the sun at last broke through in the early afternoon a spirited partnership of 66 between Shropshire lad Will Cook and Lancastrian Dan Houghton provided some entertainment. Cook made top score of 42 and Houghton 29, with four fours and one six.
Azeem Rafiq got a bit of punishment, but took the last three wickets of the innings to finish with 3-50, the best figures yet again came from Tim Bresnan with 3-12 from eight overs. So really a good performance from all the Yorkshire lads with the possible exceptions of Callis and Shaw, who need to put in some good performances in the second eleven. The seconds had a good day at Nottingham yesterday with a century for Matthew Waite and four wickets for James Wainman. Things looking good for when the serious stuff starts on Friday.
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