Yorkshire's women cricketers thwarted by the weather.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

First of all I must remember to greet Mr Winn as 'my right honourable friend' following his recent blog. In addition I must congratulate him for being able to obtain a ticket to watch Gloucestershire play Somerset later this month, which will set him well on the way to reaching his unique target of having seen every first class county play every other county.

Like John we enjoyed county cricket streaming over the weekend. First of all on Saturday to see Durham complete a wonderful innings victory over Warwickshire, then on Sunday the nail biting finish of Yorkshire beating Northants by one run. A Northants victory seemed well on the cards thanks to some wayward bowling by Willey and Olivier but fortunately the so dependable captain stepped up to do the necessary at the end. Well done Patto!

We also saw the finish at Bristol with Gloucestershire making a daunting target look so easy against Leicester. Ian Cockbain's century brought back memories of his father who played for Cheshire Minor Counties for so many years and scored an awful lot of runs in the process.

However despite all this action we still managed to fit in some live cricket with Adel taking on near neighbours New Rover in an Airedale/Wharfedale league game at Church Lane, Adel. The home side batted steadily with Elliot Audsley top scoring with 67 made at a brisk pace off only 69 balls. Most of the batsman contributed until opening bowler Jonathan Postle returned to finish off the tail quickly with 3-39. 226-9 seemed a useful score somewhere around par.

Adel batting on Saturday.

New Rover made a confident reply led by veteran skipper Michael Richmond who notched yet another fifty for his collection. They maintained the required rate throughout and with Fahid Rehman at number three playing the innings of the day, finishing on 85 not out, they coasted home to win by seven wickets with two overs to spare.

More action from Adel with hockey players in the background.

On bank holiday Monday it was a very different story with a dreadful weather forecast suggesting rain all day, getting heavier in the afternoon. However optimistic as ever we set off for Harrogate cricket club where Yorkshire women's side were due to play two T20 games against the North East Warriors, including players from Durham and Northumberland.

To most people's surprise a lull in the morning drizzle allowed a start to be made at 11.45 and Yorkshire set off at quite a pace to put runs on the board very quickly, with the white ball rebounding from the concrete terracing on the popular side at regular intervals. Skipper Holly Armitage fresh from a winter's cricket in Australia was in splendid form and it came as a surprise when she fell lbw to Laura Ellison on 49 with the total already on 110.

A lone spectator, the official photographer, an umpires assessor all the way from Lancashire and a lone fielder set the scene at Harrogate.

The other opener, wicketkeeper Bess Heath did complete her fifty with seven fours and two sixes, but the rain became more persistent and the players had to leave the field after only eleven overs, never to return. The forecast heavy rain arrived and meant that the first game was abandoned, as was the second one later in the afternoon.

Runs a plenty for Yorkshire women at Harrogate.

Still pleasant to meet up with old friends and see that the Harrogate club is thriving, with signs of white paint everywhere and a good junior set up which suggests great things for the future, although the first team have lost their first two league games so far, having conceded three hundred runs again at Driffield on Saturday.