Wednesday 19th June
Back to Weetwood the ground of Leeds University for the semi-final of the British Universities one day day competition between Leeds/Bradford MCCU and Durham MCCU. The winners to go through to next week's final at Kibworth in Leicestershire to meet either Loughborough or Oxford, who were also playing today. Our confidence in groundsman Richard Robinson and his team proved well founded as, despite more overnight rain, only an hour's delay was needed before play commenced. The game was restricted to forty overs per side rather than the usual fifty and the home side won the toss (no silly rules on this - yet) and invited the visitors to bat.
Durham, in their striking purple shirts, went off like a house on fire being particularly severe on opening bowler Dan Houghton returning to the Leeds/Bradford side after a long absence this season.
However, the red haired Lancastrian came back well to take the first wicket when he bowled Benjamin for 21. The other opener, skipper Graves was going well until the introduction of spin saw him caught for 33. Hewison (46) and Bedford (53) both played valuable innings and at one stage Durham were 178-4 after thirty one overs.
They somehow failed to press home their advantage as wickets then fell regularly and the acceleration required never really came. Adam Ahmed, the left arm spinner who has played for the Durham County Academy, then bowled a very useful spell of eight overs taking 4-41 and perhaps put the home side back on top. The final Durham score was 224-9, perhaps about par but still a gettable target for the powerful home side.
With hot sun, interspersed by occasional cloud, the very small band of spectators were beginning to think that summer had arrived at last and very pleasant it was indeed. The 'Yellows' of Leeds/Bradford were newly crowned as University Champions for their performances in all formats, where they had won every match played until the rained off final three day game with runners up Loughborough last week. Their strong looking opening pair of Ollie Batchelor, formerly of Surrey but who recently made a guest appearance for Yorkshire seconds, and Taylor Cornall, from Lancashire, started slowly but looked in control with a fifty opening partnership.
Batchelor, a prolific scorer this season, went with the total on 51 for a patient 26 and was soon followed by Ashraf both falling to the bowling of Dickson. Acting captain Dahl put on another fifty with Cornall to take the score beyond the hundred mark at half-way. Still a little behind the pace but in a good position nevertheless. Things then changed dramatically as Pearson, who plays for Todmorden in the Lancashire League, was run out without facing a ball, Haynes was bowled for four and then yet another run out as Neal also went for four. Panic had set in and 109-2 had suddenly become 141-6.
Cornall was still there, but not for long, as when he started to hit out after a stay of two hours his fierce straight drive was brilliantly caught by the bowler, Graves. This appeared to be the turning point of the game and Durham with tight bowling and excellent fielding had very much taken the upper hand. Leeds/Bradford were now 150-7 and needed to score 75 more runs from only eight overs. It looked a lost cause, particularly as the two batsmen at the wicket seemed to have problems.
Killoran had injured his shoulder in the field, did not bowl, and it was thought might not bat. Houghton had looked a little ring rusty after a long absence from the side when he bowled.
These two unlikely heroes however took the game by the scruff of the neck and pulverised Durham into submission. Houghton, the third Lancastrian in the side, went into overdrive and started hitting boundaries to all parts, including four magnificent sixes. Luck was on his side as he was dropped twice on the boundary edge but fortune favours the brave and the target off 55 in five overs, became 22 off three and after Houghton was run out from the last ball of the penultimate over for a magnificent 54 from 27 balls, only five runs were needed for victory from the final over.
Killoran scrambled a single from the first ball, Ahmed after being hit on the hand got another and Killoran hit the third ball through mid off to the boundary to take Leeds/Bradford to a stunning victory. Congratulations to all concerned for a magnificent effort. Coaches Andrew Lawson and Richard Horner must be so proud as will be Melvyn Betts coach of Durham who looked to have victory in their grasp until that final onslaught.
Leeds/Bradford will play Oxford University at Kibworth, Leicestershire next Wednesday 26th June in the final of the BUCS championship.
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