Action packed day at Weetwood

Posted by Tony Hutton

Monday 30th April

An action packed day at the Leeds University Ground Weetwood to end the dismal month of April during which we had only managed to see ten days cricket compared with twenty four days during April 2017. This was a BUCS fifty overs per side game between Leeds/Bradford MCCU and Cardiff MCCU. With a prompt 11.00 a.m. start in windy conditions the home side won the toss and decided to bat first. They got off to a brisk start and Potticary, in his role of pinch hitter, had soon hit a four and a six before being bowled by Evans for  14.

Andersson, the Middlesex batsman, had opened and played yet another invaluable innings, once again just missing out on a century after his 95 not out against Durham last week. This time after an innings of 94 in two hours he was caught off the spin bowling of Odedra to make the Leeds total 176-3. Newcomer Batchelor from Charterhouse School and Surrey 2nd XI had already gone after a competent 38, clean bowled by a Surrey team mate - Allen.

The skipper Bullen, in his usual aggressive style, together with Graham, then put on a century partnership in quick time until Graham was bowled Brewster for a well made 47. Bullen was then dismissed for 75 trying one big hit too many just before the end of the fifty overs which Leeds/Bradford finished on 299-6, which most people present thought would be a winning score.

On a very cold day, it was not really possible to warm up anywhere on the ground. (Click on picture to enlarge).

Cardiff of course had other ideas and a brisk opening partnership between two Minor Counties players, Joe Ludlow from Bedfordshire and Alex Woodland from Buckinghamshire, added 64 against the opening attack of Bocking and newcomer Patel. Woodland went for 21 caught behind off spinner McIver but Ludlow continued his very correct innings until three wickets tumbled in quick succession to the spin partnership of McIver and Ironside. Allen went for nine, followed by skipper Milton for three and then Ludlow was out for 68, which included nine fours.

With the total on 105-4 and the main batsman gone it looked very much as if the game would belong to the home side and the handful of spectators fully expected Cardiff to fold and give Leeds/Bradford a comfortable victory. It was not to be however, as the fifth wicket pair, Pearce and Machado set about the bowlers in no uncertain manner, slowly accelerating the scoring rate, until Pearce cut loose and hit the unfortunate Patel for two huge mid-wicket sixes in an over.

The pair put on a century partnership until Pearce (67) and Machado (38) were both dismissed by Ironside, an off spinner from Suffolk, who is another newcomer this season. Another wicket soon fell and at 223 for seven, the game again seemed all over. Two of the Cardiff bowlers Douthwaite and Evans now took over proceedings. With the required run rate now at twelve runs per over they took the hapless Leeds/Bradford bowlers apart and in seven more overs  with nine balls to spare took the score beyond 300 for a famous victory indeed.

Their statistics were as follows:- Douthwaite, yet another Surrey 2nd XI player, 43 not out from 32 balls, with three fours and three sixes, Evans, a Zimbabwean, at number ten 39 not out from 16 balls, with four fours and three sixes. Harry Stow, one of the main bowlers had been kept back to bowl at the death and was taken apart with 5.3 overs and figures of 1-60. Absolute carnage in the evening sunshine. Six hundred runs in a day's cricket and a truly amazing finish.