Sadly the only representative cricket match at Todmorden cricket club this season took place earlier this week with a planned two day game between Lancashire Under 19s and Middlesex Under 19s.
Unfortunately the wet weather ruled out play on day two and the game ended in a draw after Tuesday's efforts which saw Lancashire bowl out Middlesex for 235 with Lancashire 130-3 at the close.
To our surprise, after seeing the amount of standing water in the car park, play started only half an hour late in bright sunshine which lasted for most of the day, although a moderate breeze blew down the Calder Valley from the direction of Burnley. So yet another enjoyable day in this most attractive of settings and such a pity that both Lancashire and Yorkshire second elevens, who have hosted regular three day games in the past, seem to have abandoned the venue. The playing area looked a picture and the wicket, although perhaps understandably a trifle slow, played well enough.
Middlesex fielded a strong looking side, the majority of whom had second eleven experience. One of the opening batsmen was Josh DeCaires, son of Michael Atherton, who uses his mother's surname, perhaps to avoid the obvious comparisons. He batted well enough before being first man out after an opening partnership of fifty, when given out lbw for 23. As usual an excellent scorecard was provided by Lancashire with all the clubs of the home team players listed. Sadly this efficiency does not spread to the publication of match details after the event, presumably because this competition, between only six counties, is not funded by the ECB.
Some lively pace bowling from two left armers Ben Gibbon, a regular in the Cheshire Minor Counties side this season, and Ollie Sutton, from Formby cricket club, kept the Middlesex batsmen on their toes. A wicket each took the score to 97/3 when Jack Davies, one of the Berkshire contingent in the Middlesex set up, who has played for England Under 19s, was lbw for 20. However the innings of the day was played by Joe Cracknell, a rarity in being a Middlesex local lad, who made top score of 84. He was cheered on by his team mates throughout his innings with 'good shot Crackers'.
After Hollman had been caught at slip off Gibbon for 0, Cracknell dominated proceedings until he was caught behind by Harry Barclay, from Chorley, off the bowling of off spinner Parikh Praharsh, who plays for Winton cricket club. That made the score 188-5, but after a useful 44 from Artharva Prasad, for Middlesex, they slumped from 223-6 to 235 all out soon after tea.
Lancashire made a useful 130-3 before the end of day one leaving the game evenly poised, but as the forecast rightly predicted the weather had the final say and no play was possible on Wednesday leaving the match drawn. Middlesex taking six points and Lancashire seven. In the six counties league table this leaves Leicestershire and Lancashire level on 42 points, with Lancashire having a game in hand. Yorkshire Under 19s also took part in a high scoring game with Warwickshire at Moseley this week, but again a whole day was lost to the weather.
On the 28th and 29th August, Yorkshire Under 19s will play Lancashire Under 19s at Hullen Edge, Elland.
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