Past winners to meet at Lord's

posted by John Winn

Following last Sunday's semi finals holders Sessay will take on 2012 winners Reed in the final of the village cup at Lord's on September 17th. Despite my prediction in a recent  posting that Sessay would find semi final opponents Astwood Bank a stern test they appear to have come through without too much trouble. Batting first Sessay hit up 221 for 8 off their 45 overs with Astwood falling well short on 141 all out. In the other last four tie Reed reached 179 for 7 and then bowled out Aston Rowant for 105.

Confession time, for in a recent posting I described the meeting between York and Ormskirk played last Sunday as a quarter final whereas in fact it was a last 16 tie. Ormskirk were comfortable winners and will now face Hanging Heaton at home this Sunday, 1:00 start. Winners to play Wolverhampton. The other semi final will be played on Sunday August 27th at East Grinstead with Wanstead and Snaresbrook the opposition. Apologies for this mistake.

After today the championship retires to the cheap seats until Monday August  28th when there will be 8 matches. Essex, who after their crushing two day win over Yorkshire at Scarborough can be forgiven for wondering where they might display the championship pennant this winter will face bottom club Somerset and second from top, Lancashire, face second from bottom Warwickshire who in beating Middlesex at Lord's sent a ripple up the table as far as fourth placed Yorkshire.

What of Yorkshire? Yesterday I bumped into Frank Siddle, the sage of Allens West, in Northallerton, both disappointed that we were footloose on a fine day when we might have been at North Marine Road. Frank had been doing his homework looking back over Yorkshire's two innings which showed after  removing Lyth and Leaning, the top six order had  contributed 30 in eight innings with enough ducks to stock Peasholm Park lake. Put Rashid and Hodd in the mix and a further 23 runs from four innings is the result. Enough said, well not quite for Yorkshire are next in championship action on September 5th at Headingley, when their opponents will be Middlesex by which time both could be in a more precarious position.

In the second division Notts march on, their game with Derbyshire somehow managing to escape death by drowning, and they will be at Trent Bridge in the next round when Northants come to town. The second promotion spot is very much up for grabs here with Northants, Sussex and Kent separated by just two points and
all with a game in hand on Worcestershire who came unstuck at
home to Sussex this week. Northants v Sussex while Worcestershire are at Notts in early September could be crucial.