Tuesday's diary had been kept clear with the idea in mind that the test match might last its allocated five days, an idea that was kiboshed by teatime on Sunday. Plan B was dusted off and with the promise of better weather in the west and after a fifteen minute delay while a new driver was trained the 8:52 from York saw me heading for Manchester. The venue of course was Old Trafford, my first visit for two years, and I arrived just in time to see Kohler Cadmore make his way back to the hutch, lbw Bailey 0. The One Day cup game was a must win for Yorkshire if qualification for the quarter finals were to be reached but for Lancashire only pride was at stake.
The next hour was the Lyth and Willey show. I am by no means alone in thinking Willey has been a great disappointment in his three years wearing the white rose but Tuesday was certainly his day. Content at first to watch Lyth cut loose, he gave the Whitby wonder almost fifty start before hitting his straps to the extent that he was the first to reach 100 as the pair added 235 for the second wicket. No bowlers were spared, none managed to avoid being hit for less than 7 an over, and Willey took a particular liking to Jennings whose eight overs went for 33. Thanks Keats, take a blow.
Willey was finally bowled by Livingstone but lively contributions from Ballance and Brook kept the board flying along as Lancashire's fielding became ragged in the hot sunshine with which we were blessed all day. Innings closed on 379 for 7 and Lancashire's prospects were neatly summed up by one of their members when he said 'We will have to bat well.'
Not wrong lad, but so they did despite the early loss of Davies to Fisher with Jennings and Livingstone offering a
repeat of the Lyth and Willey show, Jennings playing the more orthodox game, Livingstone hitting the sixes. Yorkshire showed that they too can drop catches, particularly the sort that if shelled yield boundaries, before Fisher held what was probably the highest of Livingstone's skiers, a catch that looking back changed the game. Jennings and Vilas kept things going before the former Durham man holed out to Kohler-Cadmore, at which point enter Hameed, pretty enough but no slogger. The boundaries dried up, Rashid took wickets and the required rate was close to ten. 302 for 8 when Clark became the second of four victims for Willey. Seven overs to get 78 and it seemed Yorkshire's game but Bailey and Parry had other ideas adding 57 for the ninth before the former fell to our David and four runs later all was over and a home tie in the quarters remained alive.
The tram that I caught to return to Piccadilly disgorged hundreds going to the other Old Trafford for a Rolling Stones Concert, in age profile similar to those who had seen a wonderful day's cricket, only slightly marred by some who by 5:00 had drunk enough to make them think Flintoff was still playing for Lancashire. Of course since Tuesday Yorkshire have beaten Northants and secured their quarter final place but lost out on a home tie by virtue of Notts' superior run rate. They will travel to Chelmsford on Thursday for a day night match while Notts entertain Kent, wickets pitched at Trent Bridge at 11:00.
In the meantime the county championship returns tomorrow with three matches in the first division and four in the second. Riverside for me, at least for the first day.
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