First of all congratulations to fellow blogger John Winn for being named in the Cricket Yorkshire website's top 50 people who have contributed to cricket in the county this season. A well deserved reward for John, who always keeps us entertained with his erudite match reports, as well as pointing out the errors of the ECB policy makers in no uncertain manner. He is also not far from a lifetime achievement award in now being only two matches away from seeing every first class county play every other county. The two division structure has handicapped this impressive achievement, but who knows what the future holds. A return to one division only would help John's cause.
Nice to see Cricket Yorkshire's top award going to another unsung hero - Colin Frank of Pickering and Yorkshire over 60s. Colin has scored over 1300 runs this season in all forms of cricket and I have had the pleasure of seeing him score consistently for Yorkshire over 60s, including a memorable century against Durham at Shotley Bridge.
Yesterday saw the final of the Yorkshire Premier Leagues Championship at Headingley between Great Ayton of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League and Wakefield Thornes of the Yorkshire Premier League South. In truth this game proved to be something of a non-event, decided very early on when Great Ayton's top order collapsed in rapid fashion.
The excellent match programme gave details of the two clubs' histories and pen pictures of all the players. Possibly the most remarkable fact emerging being that the two county players Josh Shaw and Jared Warner both started with Wakefield Thornes at the age of seven. They have obviously stuck with them through thick and thin over the years, even though not available on a regular basis now, and it was a nice touch to see them batting together as the Thornes achieved an easy victory by seven wickets.
The game was played on the same wicket used by Yorkshire and Hampshire earlier in the week and it was difficult to tell whether this had any effect on the early batting collapse. As it was Mahmood Rasool and Josh Shaw made good use of the conditions with three wickets each and in no time at all Great Ayton were 25-5, with both former Yorkshire Academy players Batchelor and Holdsworth out.
Skipper Jon Grainge and Andrew Liddle, brother of the Gloucestershire player, added some respectability at the end of the innings with 17 and 20 not out respectively. Liddle hit a good straight six into the building works, but it was too little too late and Ayton were all out for 97 in the 27th over of what should have been a 50 overs a side contest. Left arm spinner Steve Morgan also took three wickets in an efficient all round performance by Thornes. Top score extras with 26!
As presumably Mrs Mulholland's excellent lunch was not yet ready, Thornes came out after a 15 minute break to chase down this modest target. Batting still did not look easy and Jared Warner took some time to get going. Wolfenden was out for 20 bowled by Sri Lankan Jeewantha at 29-1, but this only brought in prolific run scorer David Toft at number three. He eased his way to 28 before being caught behind off Batchelor, but by then the game was almost over and despite Jordan going cheaply, Thornes strolled to victory in the 25th over.
Warner, who never found it easy, made 28 not out and partnered by Shaw, 9 not out, took the applause as Thornes emerged as Yorkshire Champions yet again after their previous success in 2016. Full marks to them not only for today but for their performances throughout the season in the Yorkshire League South.
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