Shame about the cricket

posted by John Winn

Meeting Mike Taylerson at York Station we decided against queueing to see the A4 locomotives at the NRM and instead enjoyed a pleasant walk, partly by the river, to St  Peter's School for the fifth and last match of this year's Yorkshire Schools' festival, an event which has been going for 90 years, Can it ever have had better weather?

Today's opponents were Durham Academy but as last year they seemed only to have brought a scratch side. We were soon joined by Tony Hutton and a little later, Malcolm who kept us in touch with events at Trent Bridge. Durham batted first and lost a wicket in the first over and apart from a little rally for the third wicket struggled constantly against some excellent Yorkshire bowling. To compound their difficulties they contrived a run out and twenty minutes before lunch they were all out for 60. Not what pcws had in mind on such a lovely day.

Yorkshire began their reply confidently and continued thus after lunch and a ten wicket win looked likely until just before the target was reached a wicket fell but it meant nothing and victory was assured by half past two completing a festival clean sweep for the Yorkshire lads. During the lunch interval we had been joined by Brian Senior, far from impressed that he was to see so little cricket. Disappointing though the cricket was the conversation was good and notes were compared on the next couple of weeks' cricket. When two or three are gathered together what Mr Senior calls the 'hidden agenda' of cricket comes to the surface, exposing matches at various levels and various grounds.

 For many Queen's Park, Chesterfield will be the puller next week but for those who prefer quieter fare there is second eleven cricket at Maiden Castle, the sports ground for Durham University which will be a first for me and I look forward to seeing how the facilities have changed since I competed in athletics' events there in the 1960s.Interspersed with these county matches there are plenty of schools' matches.

Durham move closer to safety.

posted by John Winn

Because of a late start yesterday I eschewed the choo choo and drove to Chester le Street arriving thirty minutes after the start of play to find Durham building on their lead over Derbyshire to the point where even if Joe Root had been whisked away from Trent Bridge and transferred to Derbyshire a home defeat seemed out of the question. Keaton (I would love to call him Buster but he is far too lean for that) Jennings duly passed his 93 of the first innings and a slightly hurried single brought him to his maiden championship century. As one who called for his promotion twelve months ago I have been delighted by his progress this season and his dismissal shortly after lunch was the signal for Stoneman to declare.

Derbyshire were left with 473 needed for their first victory of the season and although I suppose it is obligatory for the captain and or coach to deliver some encouraging words before starting  such an impossible task I think even the great motivators would have struggled with this challenge. In my mind Karl Krikken, the Derbyshire coach, is best remembered for his cry of 'bowling' when he was the county's wicket keeper, not much use in these circumstances. Whatever was said didn't seem to cut the mustard because before tea Derbyshire were reduced to 49 for 5, a low point sufficient to silence even the small group of their supporters seated in front of me. Finally, and all this came after 113 all out on Wednesday some resistance was offered when Chanderpaul was joined by Poynton and they added 98 for the sixth wicket until Rushworth snared 'Shiv' and when Breeze had Wainwright lbw the possibility of it all being wrapped up before stumps seemed on. It was not to be and the bails were removed at 6:15.

During the lunch interval I visited the excellent second hand book shop in the media centre and for less than the price of a pint purchased a biography of Tich Freeman, the legendary leg spinner  of the inter war years. How nice it was on my way back to my seat to fall into conversation with a ninety year old man, a regular at The Riverside and  who remembers seeing Freeman play at Sunderland in 1931. When you are 90 who will you remember watching?

With Durham needing to take only three wickets for victory few would have made the journey this morning but our Hartlepool correspondent suffered a cancelled train and arrived fifteen minutes late, precisely the moment when Footitt's stumps were wrecked by Stokes to complete Durham's fifth win of the season .Unfortunately Mr Taylerson had not got within viewing distance of the cricket. The victory moves Durham into second place behind Sussex who they have to yet play this season. Interesting.

In Tuesday's blog I rather short changed the Bunbury Festival at Durham in two weeks time. The finals are not on Wednesday for there is cricket on both Thursday and Friday at the Racecourse, Maiden Castle and the ground of Durham City.  I will give full details in a future posting.

BAD DEFEAT FOR YORKSHIRE

By Brian Sanderson,

On a sunny morning I set off with Brian Senior to Stamford Bridge to see the last day of the Yorkshire Seconds match.When we arrived the sky was was cloudy which made it better to watch cricket.

The situation of the match was the two teams were nearly all square and M.C.C were batting again with one wicket down.Yorkshire had to take wicket early so they could have enough time to win the match.The wicket of Gough soon fell to a good catch by Eddie Wilson.However Christopher  Damien Piesley, ex Kent,
started to bat well which brough him 120 runs  and was never in trouble until he took a swing at Leaning when they were chasing runs.None of the Yorkshire bowled well but there was a new spinner.This was Oliver Robinson ex Kent, who had bowled medium pace in the first innings.He bowled 16 overs taking two wicets for 66 runs.M.C.C declared a tea -time at 277 for 9 . This left Yorkshire to score 252 in 37 overs.

Lees was out first ball caught at slip of a spinner so not a good start as he was one of only  three recognised batsmenWickets fell steadingly apart from Jack Leaning who went on to be last out for 66.The photograph above is of him batting with fielders round the bat.

Yorkshire were bowled out in just over 20 overs which was very poor.They should have been good enough to get a draw.There next match is on Tuesday against Glamorgan at Headingley.Things will have to improve inorder for them to win.

WHITE ROSE VICTORY

By Brian Sanderson,

On my birthday I took my sister for the first time to St Peters School at York.There is a five days of cricket at the school involving Yorkshire Senior Schools.To-day match was against Lancashire Academy who had just finished a two day match at Todmordon.However this team consisted of some trailists.

The first I saw was David from Brighouse who had just come back from two days at Cleethorpes seeing the last two days of the Minor county match .I saw the first day play on Sunday, see Day at the Seaside.The match finished a draw at 6.00 when Lincolnshire wanted over 100 in 17 overs with eight  wickets left. Good match.

Yorkshire batted to-day against a good Lancashire attack.Lunch was taken at 1,15 when 35 overs had been bowled and Yorkshire were about 120 for 4.We went for some lunch at a local cafe.While I was there a young girl asked for some rhubarb  tea and this was a first for me.

When we came back Yorkshire scored 220 in their forty overs.In the interval I took some photographs  and the one above is of Yorkshire waiting for Lancashire to come out to bat.Yorkshire  soon got some wickets but a fifth wicket stand  gave Lancashire a chance.

They took tea break wanting about 170 in about 35 overs.But soon after Yorkshire bowler Henderson took two wickets in two balls which caused a Lancashire collapse. So by 5.00 Lancashire were all out for 101 with 20 overs to spare. This was Yorkshire third win in the same number of days and they play M.C.C to-morrow.

RELATIVES MATCH

By Brian Sanderson,

On a warm Tuesday morning I had a trip to the first day of Yorkshire Seconds and M.C.C. Young Crickerters.The most vital object of the day was to find soms shade under the trees.The first person I met was Ismail Dawood who was one of the umpires in the match. I have know n hiim for a number of years as a umpire and a player.Next arrive was Brian Workman who was watching his first second team match.

The M.C.C side had a number of interesting players :

William Root who is the brother of Joe.
Liam Gough who is the son of Darren ex Yorkshire and England
Andrew Clark brother of Jordan  Lancashire.
Jamie Hoddle son Glen England Manager.
Stuart Poynter brother of A.D  Middlesesx.

MC.C batted first with William Root scoring 45 in a opening stand of 66.At lunch-time I was sitting next to a spectator who was scoring the match.He found that two runs was missed off the total and the Yorkshire scorer Howard Clayton agreed with him so the score was altered.

Yorkshire used ten bowlers on the very warm day and they were captained by Steve Pattinson who was recovering from a broken toe.By six o,.clock Yorkshire bowled out M.C.C for 298 in 89.3 overs.The highlight after tea was a studding catch by Robinson at second slip to remove  Hampton  off the bowling of Rhodes. It was hard work for Yorkshire and they came off the pitch tired out.

At this time I decided to go home and try and beat the York traffic.

Jennings makes runs against Derbyshire

posted by John Winn

While my absence from Weetwood was being noted I was making the drive, bus, train, bus, walk, trip to The Riverside for a Monday start in the county championship with Durham entertaining Derbyshire in the competition for the first time since 2005. Catching an earlier bus than usual from Durham I arrived in plenty of time to take a seat with my friend Michael Taylerson on the old scorebox side of the ground. It could perhaps now be called the 'new seat side' for something like 6000 new seats are now ready for next month's teat match. Rumours abound about these seats, one being that this time last year they were being installed at Horseguards' Parade for beach volleyball.

In the continued absence of Paul Collingwood, Durham were led by Mark Stoneman, who has now captained the side in all three competitions and he began by losing the toss and Derbyshire skipper Madsen invited Mark and his opening partner KK Jennings to bat first. Although the morning was warm there was  cloud cover but when 'The Peakites' took the field those who had sun glasses reached for protection from the dazzling glare of the whiteness of Derbyshire's kit. Alongside them the Durham openers looked as though they were cast as the 'grey' in the old Persil adverts.

Stoneman who a month ago was touted in a national publication as a possible international cricketer has not been in great form lately and he was soon gone for four and when Borthwick followed at 52 for 2 Madsen probably thought he had made the right decision. Jennings and Smith got through to lunch and when the latter was dismissed Richardson walked to the crease, seemingly promoted above  Stokes. Whether his elevation had rather been sprung upon him is not known but he was uncharacteristically skittish and went cheaply and when it was Mustard in next the rumour mill switched its aim from the new seats to the continued absence of Stokes .Called to Trent Bridge was one preposterous notion. Upset stomach it turned out.

Mustard and Jennings added 90 but when Jennings fell seven short of a maiden championship century the new ball in the hands of Footitt, whose selection had been met by groans from a good size Derbyshire contingent, prompted the fall of the five for 29. Stokes lasted only five balls, perhaps that was all the time he could spare. 253 all out, whilst disappointing in the light of 222 for 4, is the mean score for the team batting first at The Riverside this season and that has been the home team in all five games. The dismissal of Hughes to the second ball of the Derbyshire innings and stumps at 15 for 1 probably left both teams reasonably happy.

I mentioned in a previous posting that this week in Yorkshire offers riches to the pcw and an email from David Thorpe yesterday promises another delight at Golcar on Friday when Newcastle (Australia) Junior Cavaliers take on a young Golcar XI with a 1:30 start.

Finally thanks to Tony Hutton for details of this year's Bunbury Festival which is to be held in Durham, week beginning Monday 22nd July with the finals on the Wednesday at The Riverside. I note that the players will meet Paul Collingwood at Collingwood College for the presentation of caps. Supply your own joke.

And really finally one for the stattos: Gareth Breeze and Shiv Chandepaul are on opposite sides in this match but  both played for West Indies in Madras in October 2002 in what proved to be Breeze's only test (probably).

TIED MATCH

By Brian Sanderson,

On a cloudy but warm day Iwent up to Weetwood to see Yorkshire Seconds against M.C.C. Young Cricketers in a forty over match.The was a good crowd for the match and included Peter France from Huddersfield.I was met by comments about the weather as in seems Huddersfield was bathed in sunshine.However the sun came out and it became very hot. This caused me to go to the shade of the pavilion to eat my dinner.

Meanwhile Yorkshire batted first and had four first team players playing.The openers were Lyth and Lees.
There were two run outs in the first two wickets which seem a waste of two good batsmen.Lyth was left to score at will and was dropped on numerous occasions which enabled him to score a century.Tony Hutton arrived after watching the beginning of Yorkshire Academy against a Australian side at New Rover ground which is very close to Weetwood.Yorkshire scored over 270 and looked a good total.By this time Bob Procter arrived after his trip to Worcester to see the Australians.

M.C.C started off very quickly and looked in no problems and it was not until Rafiq started bowling the wickets started to fall.In the end he took four wickets included a brillant caught and bowled.Brian Senior arrived togother with Mick Bourne  so nearly all the P.C.W were at the match apart from John Winn.
In the final over M.C.C required three to win with one wicket left. It was left to Wardlaw of Cleckheaton and Scotland fame to bowl the final over. There was a two scored and then a catch by Sawyers tied the match. The photograph is after the catch with the batsman upset and the Yorkshire players going over to Wardlaw.Yorkshire bowling was poor apart from Rafiq but the M.C.C poor fielding made a exciting finish.Some people had gone over New Rover and missed the excitement.