Cricket (and a century) in October

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Despite this very truncated cricket season you can always rely on Arthington cricket club's annual festival to provide cricket up to the middle of October. So it was after two games abandoned by rain last weekend they were back in action yesterday in the grounds of Harewood House, near Leeds for a game against St George's Church. With the threat of showers around the start time of 12.30 and ominous areas of black cloud circling the ground throughout proceedings we were able to watch a full 35 overs per side game in pleasant autumnal sunshine for much of the afternoon.

October cricket in the sunshine at Harewood, while black clouds circle.

Possibly the best part of the day was the attendance of many friends from far afield, some who had not been seen for some time. The cricketing cognoscenti were drawn from as far away as Lancaster, Doncaster, Huddersfield and Brighouse, as well as the locals from Leeds. Sadly the home side, St. George's, had their side somewhat decimated at the last moment by the absence of three of their better players (all Adel first teamers) which meant a rather one sided contest, particularly as Arthington's festival eleven was re-enforced with some pretty useful guest players.

Autumn colours in evidence at Harewood.

Arthington batted first and accumulated runs steadily at first before accelerating to produce an almost impossible total for the home side to chase. James Lord, from Crossbank Methodists, initially dominated the opening partnership but was soon out for 21. Kamrosh Khan made a rapid 23, but when he was out the other opener Richard Spry, from Adel, took over with a fine innings of 64 which included eight fours and one six. 

Runs a plenty at Harewood.

Spry was partnered at number four by South African James Van der Merve, who has being playing in league cricket in Yorkshire for a few seasons now, this season with Scarcroft in the Wetherby League. He soon took over proceedings completely, even though wickets began to fall at the other end. He had reached 50 before Spry was out and then raced to a century with a series of mainly straight sixes, most of them off the bowling of late replacement, veteran Rupert Jones. Having gone from 99 to 105 with his tenth six, he immediately retired. A splendid display of hitting.

Left-hander, James Van der Merve, goes for another straight six.

During all this mayhem Greg O'Sullivan plugged away to pick up four wickets, two of them caught and bowled, to finish with by far the best bowling figures of 4-34. With overs restricted to thirty five per side Arthington's final total of 244-6 looked totally out of sight.

A lone spectator takes social distancing to the extreme.

So it proved as St. George's got off to the slowest of starts imaginable against the very accurate spin combination of Andy Stoddart and Nick Briggs. The amiable Mr Stoddart, bowling in his cap, probably surprised himself with incredible figures of 7-4-7-0. However top bowling figures of the day went to possibly another unlikely source when Vince Greaves-Newell stepped up to take three top order wickets and came up with 7-2-9-3.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and the game ended with St. George's struggling to make 94-8 at the end of their 35 overs. A one sided contest throughout but one that brought a lot of pleasure to the small band of watching enthusiasts. Unfortunately on a fine, sunny afternoon today the final fixture of the season between Arthington and the Forty Club appears to have been called off due to heavy overnight rain.