Yorkshire eyes turn to Edgbaston

 Interviewed on local radio on Tuesday evening Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck an optimistic note about Yorkshire's chances of securing a result that would save them from Division Two of the county championship in 2023. "If we have a good morning and somebody puts their hand up when we bat then I think we can win' People sitting around me in Upper North East when wickets were pitched yesterday morning were on the whole less sanguine about Yorkshire's chances but the first part of TKC's formula for victory was certainly forthcoming when from an overnight 204 for 6 Gloucestershire were bowled out for 233, wickets for Hill (2) Patterson and a last man Singh Dale run out by brilliant work by Foster. Just in case he was not required to bat in Yorkshire's second innings Steve Patterson, making his final appearance for the county he has served for seventeen years, was given a standing ovation by players, officials and spectators alike as he left the field.

'Patto' leaves the field at Headingley, later to return.

Yorkshire's 'good morning' left them with something in excess of five sessions to get the 241 required for victory. Wharton who had spent a long time over a duck on Monday opened his account with cover drive for four only to succumb next ball bowled by Price (T). Lyth was joined by Hill and they saw Yorkshire safely through to lunch at 36 for 1 and after refreshments they extended their partnership to 64 before Hill was lbw to Singh Dale for 36. Enter TKC, would he raise his hand? Yes, if asked if he was clot of the year, for he fell into the most obvious of traps set by Gloucestershire spinner Gohar when attempting a second six in just nine balls he was brilliantly caught by Price (T) at long off. Tom left the Headingley field for the last time in silence save for one remark from the Lower North East which was probably not wishing him good luck at his new club, Somerset. 

     95/4,105/5, 119/6, describes better than words the next hour's play as Tattersall, Duke and Lyth all fell and our hopes went in the same direction but were raised again by the best innings of the match from Bess. He received sensible support from Thomson, Fisher and Coad all of whom sold their wickets dearly but when Coad was lbw to Gohar leaving fifty still needed spectators around us found bigger fish to fry like trains and buses to catch. Patterson entered to more applause and stayed for 41 minutes without scoring. As Bess added runs at the other end Gloucestershire allowed him to take singles in efforts to put Patterson on strike but when Steve did face he blocked resolutely, mainly against the spin of Gohar. Milestones were ticked off, 40 to get, 30 to get, 20 to get but after 41 minutes of obdurate defence Patterson played an attacking shot and was caught by Dent, an excellent catch to bring three days absorbing cricket to an end. 'Patto' received his third ovation of the day as the season ended which rather overshadowed Bess's splendid 79 not out.A chorus of 'Winter Wells' and off we went our thoughts already turning to events at Edgbaston where Warwickshire have known for two days that they must beat Hants to avoid the descent from champions in 2021 to Division Two in 2023 and thereby relegate Yorkshire.

I am listening to the commentary from Birmingham as I type where Warwickshire lead by 57 but have just lost a third wicket which may effectively be four given the doubts about Hain's fitness to bat. Sad that Yorkshire must depend on events elsewhere to stay in Division 1 but if you only win one championship match, and that back in mid April, then you can hardly complain.