Wednesday saw me make the short journey to St George's Road, Harrogate for a second eleven T20 double header with Yorkshire II taking on Lancashire II. With several players still on England duty and with 13 on standby to face Durham yesterday evening in the opening game of this year's Blast competition Yorkshire's team paled into inexperience alongside Lancashire's which included a number who have tasted first team action this season.
The sun, which has had plenty of practice in recent weeks, broke through the cloud right on cue as the players took the field. By mid afternoon along with companions David Thorpe and Graham Hinchliffe I increasingly needed to seek what little shade the ground affords as temperatures hit the mid twenties. On winning the toss Lancashire chose to bat and Karl Brown got things off to a lively start with Wainman going for 13 from his first over. Bohannon, one of the Bolton Bohannons, was the passive partner and he scored only seven in an opening stand of 40. Hameed, whose test days seem a distant memory, came in at four when Guest went for nought and three figures were on the board when he departed. Lancashire continued to rattle along and the innings closed at 155 for 6. After his opening over Wainman was not trusted to bowl again and Shaw, most economical of the Yorkshire attack was held back so long he only bowled three overs.
Perhaps to cheer him up Wainman opened the innings with Anjam but 20 for 1 and 23 for 2 did not suggest 155 was in danger. And so it proved for Yorkshire fell 31 short, top scorer Loten with 23, three wickets for Hartley and three for Lester. Time for a Magnum, ice cream not champagne and a chat with the family Sanderson before game two was underway in front of what had become a decent crowd. Yorkshire's turn to call right and like Lancs choosing to bat. A better start this time with Anjam and Wainman putting on 41 before the latter was out to Hurt. Anjam hung about to be eighth out for 68 but nobody offered much support and 145 for 9 was the total. More wickets for Hartley. Three innings and my T20 stamina was exhausted but David and Graham stayed on and let me know later in the evening that Lancashire had won by 8 wickets. Bohannon 89 not out and Brooke Guest 40, all over in the seventeenth.
The world cup juggernaut has sent shock waves through tomorrow's league cricket programme with some leagues moving fixtures en bloc to Sunday and others starting matches as early as 9:00 am. Impossible to cover all the changes here but if you are thinking of watching it might be advisable to check before you travel. One game that I am fairly confident will not be affected is the Women's ODI at Headingley between England and New Zealand, wickets pitched 11:00. That's where I am intending to be and David is likely to make it two. How about you?
No comments:
Post a Comment