posted by John Winn
The Village Cup reaches the group finals stage this Sunday, a round that will send 32 clubs through to the national stages from which eventually two will emerge to play at Lord's in September. Holders Sessay face a trip to the Filey area to take on Folkton and Flixton, currently mid table in the York and District League First Division. Closer to home for me the North Yorkshire (South) decider will be at Studley Royal where Staxton will be the visitors. Lying second in the Scarborough Beckett League, a competition of which I have little knowledge, Staxton seem a progressive outfit and this will probably be my match of the day. This good viewing ground allows watching from the car on cold days and is just west of Ripon.
In Scotland two big names shape up with Falkland facing Freuchie, two clubs who have visited North Yorkshire in the competition in recent years. This side of the border two County Durham sides meet , Sacriston from near Durham are at home to Wolviston, members of the NYSD. Group 5, West, South Yorks and Humberside has produced a local derby, East Ardsley v Streethouse, just a 10 mile journey for Streethouse.
Full fixtures are available at nvko.play-cricket.com with the exception of Group 27, Somerset and Avon but with a bit of digging this can be found at nationalvillagecup.com and features Stapleton v Timsbury. Looking through the other ties a number of clubs who can usually be counted on to reach the later stages catch the eye. Cleator from Cumbria, winners in 2013 are at home to Read, a Burnley club while Reed(sic) winners in 2012 will contest the Beds and Herts Group against Preston, a team from near Hitchin.
In East Sussex Glynde and Beddingham who won at Lord's in 2009 will host Mayfield and going even further back to 2001 and Ynystawe's victory, the Glamorgan side will travel to Tondu on Sunday. Other names to look out for are last year's losing finalists, Sibton Park who will visit the lovely ground at Linton Park to decide who will progress from Kent, Goatacre who I seem to mention every year crop up again in Dorset and Wilts with a home tie against Burbage and Easton Royal. Finally and for no particular reason other than it is a name that hardly trips off the tongue, in Herefordshire and Powys, Bartestree and Lugwardine go to Colwall, a well appointed ground which has hosted Herefordshire Minor Counties XI on occasions. This will actually be B and L's first game in the 2017 competition for disappointingly there were only three entries from this region and they received a bye. Let's hope all matches are contested this weekend.
Tuesday, 6 June 2017
Monday, 5 June 2017
Yorkshire on top at Headingley
Posted by Tony Hutton
Like most other things Roses cricket is not like it used to be. Lancashire were upset to be without Anderson (injured) and the ever improving Livingstone (on England Lions duty) but of course Yorkshire spend most of their season without five first choice players on England duty. The visitors were also reinforced by three overseas players in Chanderpaul, Vilas and McLaren whereas Yorkshire just have one - the Australian Handscomb, not that we really need him in my humble opinion.
To all intents and purposes the match was over on the first day which was delayed until lunchtime by rain. When play did eventually start Yorkshire's battery of pace bowlers were soon among the wickets. Sidebottom and Brooks back together as the opening pair had Coad and Bresnan in support and they proved rather too effective for a struggling Lancashire, who perhaps regretted their decision to bat first before the rains came.
Guard of honour for the players from the Yorkshire Regiment.
Sidebottom took the first wicket to dismiss wicket keeper Davies and then had Procter caught behind by Hodd first ball. Skipper Croft survived the hat trick ball and then stayed around with Hameed who did so well for England in the winter. The young man batted watchfully for an hour, only scoring nine runs, but the introduction of Ben Coad proved his undoing and he too was caught behind. Lancashire then 33-3 and soon it was 44-4 when Coad struck again having Procter lbw for 16.
Sidebottom bowling with an attacking field at Headingley .
The advent of the two overseas stars Chanderpaul and Vilas suggested a recovery was on the cards but not so. Coad's accuracy and movement off the pitch saw them both removed very rapidly and Lancashire were really on the ropes at 48-6. He like Sidebottom was on a hat trick, but Clark survived. At this point I sent a text to one of my Lancashire friends who I had already met on the ground earlier. He told me he was not impressed by Coad at Old Trafford recently, so I asked him if he had changed his opinion now!
Lancashire on the ropes.
A slight recovery set in with thirty runs each for McLaren, the second South African, and Parry but when Sidebottom returned to get rid of McLaren lbw and Coad dismissed the last two Bailey and Parry it was all over and Lancashire wee all out for a paltry 123. Hero of the hour yet again was Ben Coad, who has done so well already this season, with career best figures of 6-25. Sidebottom showed that he is still good value and really up for the challenge with 3-30.
Ben Coad applauded by team mates and supporters alike.
Yorkshire lost Lees and Handscomb before the close, but finished in a comfortable position on 93-2 with Lyth looking good on forty not out. Skipper Gary Ballance who has been full of runs this season was also not out so the prospects of a big lead for the home side looked very good indeed, particularly as the Lancashire bowling attack, without Anderson, looked rather thin to say the least.
I did not see the remainder of the match but needless to say Yorkshire won comfortably by ten wickets on the third day after dismissing Lancashire for 209 in their second innings. Adam Lyth was the batting hero with exactly 100 made very patiently in over five hours, which was something more like the famous Roses matches of old.
Like most other things Roses cricket is not like it used to be. Lancashire were upset to be without Anderson (injured) and the ever improving Livingstone (on England Lions duty) but of course Yorkshire spend most of their season without five first choice players on England duty. The visitors were also reinforced by three overseas players in Chanderpaul, Vilas and McLaren whereas Yorkshire just have one - the Australian Handscomb, not that we really need him in my humble opinion.
To all intents and purposes the match was over on the first day which was delayed until lunchtime by rain. When play did eventually start Yorkshire's battery of pace bowlers were soon among the wickets. Sidebottom and Brooks back together as the opening pair had Coad and Bresnan in support and they proved rather too effective for a struggling Lancashire, who perhaps regretted their decision to bat first before the rains came.
Sidebottom took the first wicket to dismiss wicket keeper Davies and then had Procter caught behind by Hodd first ball. Skipper Croft survived the hat trick ball and then stayed around with Hameed who did so well for England in the winter. The young man batted watchfully for an hour, only scoring nine runs, but the introduction of Ben Coad proved his undoing and he too was caught behind. Lancashire then 33-3 and soon it was 44-4 when Coad struck again having Procter lbw for 16.
The advent of the two overseas stars Chanderpaul and Vilas suggested a recovery was on the cards but not so. Coad's accuracy and movement off the pitch saw them both removed very rapidly and Lancashire were really on the ropes at 48-6. He like Sidebottom was on a hat trick, but Clark survived. At this point I sent a text to one of my Lancashire friends who I had already met on the ground earlier. He told me he was not impressed by Coad at Old Trafford recently, so I asked him if he had changed his opinion now!
A slight recovery set in with thirty runs each for McLaren, the second South African, and Parry but when Sidebottom returned to get rid of McLaren lbw and Coad dismissed the last two Bailey and Parry it was all over and Lancashire wee all out for a paltry 123. Hero of the hour yet again was Ben Coad, who has done so well already this season, with career best figures of 6-25. Sidebottom showed that he is still good value and really up for the challenge with 3-30.
Yorkshire lost Lees and Handscomb before the close, but finished in a comfortable position on 93-2 with Lyth looking good on forty not out. Skipper Gary Ballance who has been full of runs this season was also not out so the prospects of a big lead for the home side looked very good indeed, particularly as the Lancashire bowling attack, without Anderson, looked rather thin to say the least.
I did not see the remainder of the match but needless to say Yorkshire won comfortably by ten wickets on the third day after dismissing Lancashire for 209 in their second innings. Adam Lyth was the batting hero with exactly 100 made very patiently in over five hours, which was something more like the famous Roses matches of old.
Atkinson Swires Cup
posted by John Winn
I have rather neglected my local club, Ouseburn CC, in recent weeks so was pleased to take the opportunity yesterday to put in a full afternoon at Lightmire Lane. Cup action here with an Atkinson Swires Senior KO (Round 2) tie, Pateley Bridge the visitors and both sides understrength, a disappointing characteristic of much Sunday cricket these days. Even the competition itself is undervalued with a number of clubs opting not to enter.
Ouseburn had usual opening bowlers, Jamie Bryant and Rus Robshaw, available but Pateley made good progress against these two and at one point were rattling along at five an over and reached 100 for the loss of only one wicket. The introduction of young Liam Blacker- Meek put the brakes on and there were wickets for Mackrill and Morrison as the screws were tightened, the run rate fell and the visitors' middle order and tail were exposed. 150 for 9 off the allotted forty overs was way below what had seemed possible and confidence among the Lightmire Balconiers was high as we enjoyed an excellent tea.
Skipper Fisher and former Goldsborough player Mackrill began the reply with a flurry of boundaries but when Fisher pulled a shot onto his wicket and Mackrill was caught behind on the leg side there was a momentary fluttering among the cognoscenti but Jones B and Bryant steadied the ship and shortly before six I felt confident enough to ring home and say that I would be about another forty minutes. A flurry of big hits, especially from Bryant made this look a very conservative estimate and by 6:15 it was all over with an 8 wicket win and 18 overs to spare.
The Quarter Finals will be on Sunday July 2nd and the draw is as follows
Darley v Helperby
Masham v Ouseburn
Studley Royals II v Knaresborough Forest
Birstwith v Blubberhouses.
Despite the non entry of eight clubs, five of the current top six in Division 1 are still represented and Masham (5th) v Ouseburn (2nd) is probably the pick of the ties.
I have rather neglected my local club, Ouseburn CC, in recent weeks so was pleased to take the opportunity yesterday to put in a full afternoon at Lightmire Lane. Cup action here with an Atkinson Swires Senior KO (Round 2) tie, Pateley Bridge the visitors and both sides understrength, a disappointing characteristic of much Sunday cricket these days. Even the competition itself is undervalued with a number of clubs opting not to enter.
Ouseburn had usual opening bowlers, Jamie Bryant and Rus Robshaw, available but Pateley made good progress against these two and at one point were rattling along at five an over and reached 100 for the loss of only one wicket. The introduction of young Liam Blacker- Meek put the brakes on and there were wickets for Mackrill and Morrison as the screws were tightened, the run rate fell and the visitors' middle order and tail were exposed. 150 for 9 off the allotted forty overs was way below what had seemed possible and confidence among the Lightmire Balconiers was high as we enjoyed an excellent tea.
Skipper Fisher and former Goldsborough player Mackrill began the reply with a flurry of boundaries but when Fisher pulled a shot onto his wicket and Mackrill was caught behind on the leg side there was a momentary fluttering among the cognoscenti but Jones B and Bryant steadied the ship and shortly before six I felt confident enough to ring home and say that I would be about another forty minutes. A flurry of big hits, especially from Bryant made this look a very conservative estimate and by 6:15 it was all over with an 8 wicket win and 18 overs to spare.
The Quarter Finals will be on Sunday July 2nd and the draw is as follows
Darley v Helperby
Masham v Ouseburn
Studley Royals II v Knaresborough Forest
Birstwith v Blubberhouses.
Despite the non entry of eight clubs, five of the current top six in Division 1 are still represented and Masham (5th) v Ouseburn (2nd) is probably the pick of the ties.
One for roller conniseurs. This was taken at Armitage Bridge earlier this season. It was made by Pattisson's of Stanmore, Middlesex, a company established in 1896. As well as rollers they also manufactured mowers and light tractors using Ford components. One of their best known products were horse shoes to be worn by the horses pulling mowers etc. They had no better sponsor than WG Grace who believed they were 'the finest I have seen'.
Sunday, 4 June 2017
Easy passage for holders
posted by John Winn
As Tony mentioned in an earlier posting our paths crossed briefly last Sunday. After a late return from Swansea the previous evening it suited me nicely that the next day I could make the short journey to Sessay near Thirsk to watch the home team, winners in 2016, host Moorsholm from near Saltburn in the North Yorkshire (North) section of the Village Cup.
I arrived shortly after the start of play to find the usual good crowd watching the visitors batting and for a time at least provoking the idea that we might see a close contest. In particular one of the Moorsholm openers was giving it some biff, putting his not inconsiderable weight behind the ball and there were sixty on the board before a wicket fell. Alas that was as good as it was to get for the Langbaurgh League side and they gradually subsided to 122 all out, a score that seemed unlikely to trouble the visitors.
The tea interval provided the opportunity to put in a few laps of this well maintained ground with its view of the White Horse, to the right of the scoreboard in this picture.
As Tony mentioned in an earlier posting our paths crossed briefly last Sunday. After a late return from Swansea the previous evening it suited me nicely that the next day I could make the short journey to Sessay near Thirsk to watch the home team, winners in 2016, host Moorsholm from near Saltburn in the North Yorkshire (North) section of the Village Cup.
I arrived shortly after the start of play to find the usual good crowd watching the visitors batting and for a time at least provoking the idea that we might see a close contest. In particular one of the Moorsholm openers was giving it some biff, putting his not inconsiderable weight behind the ball and there were sixty on the board before a wicket fell. Alas that was as good as it was to get for the Langbaurgh League side and they gradually subsided to 122 all out, a score that seemed unlikely to trouble the visitors.
The tea interval provided the opportunity to put in a few laps of this well maintained ground with its view of the White Horse, to the right of the scoreboard in this picture.
Despite a wicket falling before a run was scored, an event which caused a local to mutter something about the Lord Mayor's Show, presumably a reference to Sessay's win at Lord's last year, the holders made smooth progress towards the required total. This was almost entirely due to the smoothest of innings from the Sessay number three and with Moorsholm handicapped by a lack of agility in the field, made worse by an injury to one of the heavy brigade, the win was achieved with twenty overs to spare. The inevitable victory was delayed by a lost ball, which had I been sitting in my deck chair I might have caught, might, but a victory margin of six wickets was a fair assessment of the strength of the two sides and the two leagues in which they compete. I questioned one of the Langbaurgh side as to their progress in league matches, rubbish was his verdict which given a good win over Thimbleby yesterday seems a little harsh.
I apologise for the lack of detail in the above account but a week on from the match the Village Cup website shows nothing but a win for Sessay by ten wickets, which apart from being wrong is not good enough for a competition of this stature. And while I am in grizzling mode could not Sessay find a spare umpire's coat in the locker? One umpire smartly and correctly dressed, the other in mufti is also not worthy of the competition. Perhaps the proceeds of the raffle, tickets for which were still being sold shortly before stumps, another grievance, might go towards a spare jacket. About twenty quid will suffice I believe.
To conclude on a happier note Tony mentioned in his latest posting that Yorkshire II were Westward Ho after their victory at Kibworth to face Somerset II in the semi final of the Second XI Trophy. Pleasing to be able to report that they won a rain affected match and will play Middlesex in the final on Thursday at Headingley. To my surprise this will be a day night match with wickets pitched at 2:00, please note that nobody can be spared to open the Kirkstall Lane gate. More bones of contention than Battersea Dogs' Home.
And even more finally Wicketleaks has seen a draft of the structure of county cricket for 2020 when we will be blessed with the new City T20 competition which will rival the Big Bash but not of course in its loss making potential. The 'few thousand disgruntled county fans' whose loss the editor of the cricketer magazine feels are a fair swap for the new audience of women and children the new competition will attract can look forward to three months without championship cricket. Mr Hughes has got one thing right, 'disgruntled' is the word.
Friday, 2 June 2017
Long distance journey to a new venue
Posted by Tony Hutton
For many years now the cricket ground at Kibworth in Leicestershire has been on my wanted list.
Today, Wednesday 31st May was the day, with an excellent weather forecast, to make the long journey of over two hundred miles there and back. Fortunately the M1 traffic was not too bad and we got to this pleasant ground south east of Leicester in good time for the eleven o'clock start. Leicestershire second eleven were entertaining Yorkshire second XI and this was day two of a three day championship game.
Kibworth pavilion.
The facilities in the modern large pavilion were first class and lots of room for parking so we were soon in position on the boundary edge in glorious sunshine for what proved to be an excellent day particularly for Yorkshire. They had been bowled out by Leicester for 270 yesterday and the home side were struggling somewhat at 36-3 overnight. Initially some good resistance from Fazackerly, who had taken 6-53 yesterday, kept Yorkshire at bay with a hard earned fifty and he shared a partnership of eighty with Sayer, which took Leicester to 116-4.
After that things rather fell apart and with veteran Charlie Shreck unable to bat due to injury they collapsed to 158 all out. Will Rhodes finished off the tail and ended with the best bowling figures of 4-23 helped by four good catches by wicker keeper Read. After a cloudy period during the early afternoon the sun re-appeared for the last half of the day and the Yorkshire opening pair of Harry Brook and Johnny Tattersall really did make hay while the sun shone.
Tattersall (left) and Brook go out to start their innings.
Harry Brook pulls to leg.
Brook started slowly and Tattersall out scored him briefly at the start of the partnership but then once Brook really got into his stride he completely dominated the proceedings with an absolute vintage innings. He played shots all round the wicket and the majority of his runs came in boundaries, dominating the strike by often taking a single off the last ball of the over. Tattersall too played his part and good to see him captaining the team after having his very short term contract extended to the end of the season. The partnership raced past a hundred and then on to two hundred a tremendous achievement for these two young men.
Tattersall lets a rare ball go through to the keeper.
Eventually Brook was the first to go having excelled with the square cut, the extra cover drive and pulls through mid wicket, he was lbw to Raine for 127 out of a partnership of 218. This was one of the best innings I have seen for some time and although the bowling was not of a very high standard, without the injured Shreck, I am sure we will hear a lot more of Harry Brook in the near future.
His partner Tattersall also reached his century before the close and looks a quality player as he has suggested with his performances for Harrogate and Lincolnshire already this season.
Tattersall turns one to leg.
Tattersall was able to declare the following morning on 293-4 leaving Leicester the impossible task of chasing a target of 400 plus to win. Leicester put up a slightly better show with good innings by Ali and wicket keeper Swindells, but Carver's 6-53 saw Yorkshire comfortably home to win by 182 runs.
A really memorable day and well worth the effort to drive all that way. The Yorkshire team also had a marathon journey awaiting in their luxury coach all the way to Taunton for Friday's Trophy semi-final against Somerset.
For many years now the cricket ground at Kibworth in Leicestershire has been on my wanted list.
Today, Wednesday 31st May was the day, with an excellent weather forecast, to make the long journey of over two hundred miles there and back. Fortunately the M1 traffic was not too bad and we got to this pleasant ground south east of Leicester in good time for the eleven o'clock start. Leicestershire second eleven were entertaining Yorkshire second XI and this was day two of a three day championship game.
The facilities in the modern large pavilion were first class and lots of room for parking so we were soon in position on the boundary edge in glorious sunshine for what proved to be an excellent day particularly for Yorkshire. They had been bowled out by Leicester for 270 yesterday and the home side were struggling somewhat at 36-3 overnight. Initially some good resistance from Fazackerly, who had taken 6-53 yesterday, kept Yorkshire at bay with a hard earned fifty and he shared a partnership of eighty with Sayer, which took Leicester to 116-4.
After that things rather fell apart and with veteran Charlie Shreck unable to bat due to injury they collapsed to 158 all out. Will Rhodes finished off the tail and ended with the best bowling figures of 4-23 helped by four good catches by wicker keeper Read. After a cloudy period during the early afternoon the sun re-appeared for the last half of the day and the Yorkshire opening pair of Harry Brook and Johnny Tattersall really did make hay while the sun shone.
Brook started slowly and Tattersall out scored him briefly at the start of the partnership but then once Brook really got into his stride he completely dominated the proceedings with an absolute vintage innings. He played shots all round the wicket and the majority of his runs came in boundaries, dominating the strike by often taking a single off the last ball of the over. Tattersall too played his part and good to see him captaining the team after having his very short term contract extended to the end of the season. The partnership raced past a hundred and then on to two hundred a tremendous achievement for these two young men.
Eventually Brook was the first to go having excelled with the square cut, the extra cover drive and pulls through mid wicket, he was lbw to Raine for 127 out of a partnership of 218. This was one of the best innings I have seen for some time and although the bowling was not of a very high standard, without the injured Shreck, I am sure we will hear a lot more of Harry Brook in the near future.
His partner Tattersall also reached his century before the close and looks a quality player as he has suggested with his performances for Harrogate and Lincolnshire already this season.
Tattersall was able to declare the following morning on 293-4 leaving Leicester the impossible task of chasing a target of 400 plus to win. Leicester put up a slightly better show with good innings by Ali and wicket keeper Swindells, but Carver's 6-53 saw Yorkshire comfortably home to win by 182 runs.
A really memorable day and well worth the effort to drive all that way. The Yorkshire team also had a marathon journey awaiting in their luxury coach all the way to Taunton for Friday's Trophy semi-final against Somerset.
Academy back to winning ways
Posted by Tony Hutton
Bank Holiday Monday and a dismal forecast for the Leeds area, but looking a bit more encouraging further east. So off we go to Stamford Bridge east of York to see if the Yorkshire Academy could complete a match after the last two were both abandoned due to rain.
Stamford Bridge, a few years ago, when the sun shone.
Plenty of puddles in the vicinity of the ground suggested a delayed start but as usual the efficient ground staff at Low Catton Road had everything under control and a prompt twelve noon start was made.The home side won the toss and asked the Academy to bat first perhaps feeling that the wicket might be a bit damp. Batting certainly was not easy from the word go and the prolific Harry Brook, captaining the side today, was out very early on. He was lbw to Dominic Rhodes for only one and Rhodes, together with the other opening bowler Luke Robinson, destroyed the top order in quick time.
After 18 overs the Academy were 69-7 and staring defeat in the face, but some determined batting from Ben Birkhead, the young wicket keeper, Eddie Barnes and Alec Drury turned things round somewhat. Birkhead, who had made 92 for Scholes in the Huddersfield League yesterday, played a useful innings of 20 and set the stage for Barnes (31) and Drury (24) to put on a partnership of 52 for the eighth wicket. This still left the Academy all out for 134 which seemed a rather modest total.
With a strong four man pace attack the Academy were not out of it by any means. Matthew Fisher turned the game on it's head with two wickets in his first over and a third soon afterwards to dismiss Stuart Boyle, Mark Tennant and county player Will Rhodes leaving the Bridge on 17-3. Overseas player Donovan Sinclair was then clean bowled by the pace of Jared Warner and it became 25-4.
Some resistance from former York player Ryan McKendry and Dominic Rhodes seemed to be putting the Bridge back in the frame but the support bowlers then took wickets.
Eddie Barnes took two, off spinner Jack Shutt two, with the help of a brilliant diving catch by Alec Drury and Matthew Taylor got rid of the dangerous McKendry. However the last wicket pair of Luke Robinson, who had taken four wickets earlier, and Andrew Healey did not give up easily. Coming together with the score 95-9 they still needed forty more runs to win the game. Slowly and surely they edged their way towards the daunting total. The Academy were getting worried and had to bring back opening bowlers Fisher and Warner with only twelve runs still required. Warner did the trick by clean bowling Robinson for 18 and the Academy were home and dry.
A low scoring game with lots of twists and turns provided excellent entertainment for the hardy spectators of both sides. Good to see both Fisher and Warner restored to fitness and bowling at pace, but another good all round team performance with some good fielding and excellent wicket keeping from Ben Birkhead.
Bank Holiday Monday and a dismal forecast for the Leeds area, but looking a bit more encouraging further east. So off we go to Stamford Bridge east of York to see if the Yorkshire Academy could complete a match after the last two were both abandoned due to rain.
Plenty of puddles in the vicinity of the ground suggested a delayed start but as usual the efficient ground staff at Low Catton Road had everything under control and a prompt twelve noon start was made.The home side won the toss and asked the Academy to bat first perhaps feeling that the wicket might be a bit damp. Batting certainly was not easy from the word go and the prolific Harry Brook, captaining the side today, was out very early on. He was lbw to Dominic Rhodes for only one and Rhodes, together with the other opening bowler Luke Robinson, destroyed the top order in quick time.
After 18 overs the Academy were 69-7 and staring defeat in the face, but some determined batting from Ben Birkhead, the young wicket keeper, Eddie Barnes and Alec Drury turned things round somewhat. Birkhead, who had made 92 for Scholes in the Huddersfield League yesterday, played a useful innings of 20 and set the stage for Barnes (31) and Drury (24) to put on a partnership of 52 for the eighth wicket. This still left the Academy all out for 134 which seemed a rather modest total.
With a strong four man pace attack the Academy were not out of it by any means. Matthew Fisher turned the game on it's head with two wickets in his first over and a third soon afterwards to dismiss Stuart Boyle, Mark Tennant and county player Will Rhodes leaving the Bridge on 17-3. Overseas player Donovan Sinclair was then clean bowled by the pace of Jared Warner and it became 25-4.
Some resistance from former York player Ryan McKendry and Dominic Rhodes seemed to be putting the Bridge back in the frame but the support bowlers then took wickets.
Eddie Barnes took two, off spinner Jack Shutt two, with the help of a brilliant diving catch by Alec Drury and Matthew Taylor got rid of the dangerous McKendry. However the last wicket pair of Luke Robinson, who had taken four wickets earlier, and Andrew Healey did not give up easily. Coming together with the score 95-9 they still needed forty more runs to win the game. Slowly and surely they edged their way towards the daunting total. The Academy were getting worried and had to bring back opening bowlers Fisher and Warner with only twelve runs still required. Warner did the trick by clean bowling Robinson for 18 and the Academy were home and dry.
A low scoring game with lots of twists and turns provided excellent entertainment for the hardy spectators of both sides. Good to see both Fisher and Warner restored to fitness and bowling at pace, but another good all round team performance with some good fielding and excellent wicket keeping from Ben Birkhead.
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Saturday downpour and Sunday sunshine
Posted by Tony Hutton
Saturday 27th May began in warm sunshine with a prompt noon start for the Yorkshire Academy taking on Hull at Weetwood, Leeds in the Yorkshire Premier League North. Current form suggested an Academy victory against the lowly visitors but they put up some stern resistance from opener Simpson 70 not out and skipper Grey 43 which had taken them to 128-2 in thirty overs. Around two o'clock the approaching dark clouds from the south west which had been getting nearer and nearer finally released a very heavy downpour which drove the players and spectators indoors or to their cars.
Two hours later the sun came out again and we returned to the ground, but still no play in progress.
We had seen play had re-started just across the road at New Rover who were playing Bardsey in Division three of the Aire Wharfe league. Here we were in time to see Mark Dinsdale progress from 80 to 123 before he was out after some big hitting which took the home side's score to 270-8. At which point they declared after only 45 overs. This gave Bardsey an equal number of overs in which to go for the rather daunting target. They made a brave attempt but finished 44 runs short on 226-9.
News had by then filtered in that both the game at Weetwood and Yorkshire's one day friendly with South Africa A at Headingley had been abandoned without any further play. It transpired that the rain over Yorkshire had been very hit and miss and the Academy were most unlucky to have the only game in their league which was abandoned, all the others having a positive result.
A different day on Sunday both in terms of the weather and the type of cricket we watched. Rather than make the long journey to Nottingham for County Championship cricket on Bank Holiday Sunday where Notts had already made Gloucester follow on, we trawled the internet for something more local.
We had cancelled a proposed trip to Ampleforth College a couple of weeks ago due to wet weather so felt very fortunate to discover a game between the Old Amplefordians and Yorkshire Gentlemen scheduled for 11.30 on Sunday. Added interest as well when we discovered a girl's cricket festival on the adjacent number two ground between Yorkshire Under 15s North and Yorkshire Under 15s South.
Ampleforth on a previous visit
The beautiful sunny weather lasted the whole day through and the wonderful setting of Ampleforth as ever was a delight. We also revelled in this old fashioned form of cricket, no overs involved, lunch at 1.30, a declaration mid-afternoon, tea at 4.30 and the last hour started at 5.30. The first person we spotted was the ubiquitous Geoff Barker (have bat will travel) who now plays for the Olicanian Club in Ilkley, but is best known to us for his regular appearances at the end of season Arthington cricket festival in September and October.
Geoff was sitting with his pads on, ready to go in at number three, and had quite a long wait before he entered the fray as the openers put on a leisurely fifty odd runs in about an hour and a half. Sadly it was not his day and he was given out lbw for only one and had to make the long walk back to the impressive pavilion.
During the lunch interval we were able to watch the start of the girls' match on the next door ground, with it's small black and white, almost doll's house like pavilion. They were extremely enthusiastic and watched by a large crowd of proud parents and grandparents around this delightful small ground.
It all reminded me of the many schoolboys festivals for under fifteens which were staged here until a few years ago, when you would see four games going on simultaneously on the different pitches available. Don Wilson, the former Yorkshire spinner was then in residence as the cricket coach and always made a most humorous farewell speech when presenting the prizes.
After that we saw the visitor centre and the tea room in the Abbey premises. What an imposing structure it is and how lucky the pupils at the College, who have some of the best sporting facilities anywhere with cricket and rugby being the two most popular sports. The Yorkshire Gentlemen had lost wickets fairly steadily during all this and finally declared at 153-9. Nothing particularly exciting occurred although opening batsman O'Kelly top scored with a rather dour 60. It didn't really matter with the occasional striped blazer doing a circuit or two and some excellent looking picnics being eaten on the boundary edge, the atmosphere was of cricket days of long ago and how refreshing it was.
Making our way home via country lanes we could not resist making a slight detour to call in at the very off the beaten track village of Sessay, last visited about twenty years ago. The local team are of course the current holders of the national village knock out trophy and were defending their title against Moorsholm from the other side of the North Yorkshire Moors, near Saltburn.
The visitors had batted first and were all out for 122. Sessay were well in control and we saw them to an easy victory with wickets in hand in front of a very large crowd at yet another attractive ground, with a distant view of the White Horse carved into the hillside above Kilburn. Another very pleasant occasion and we were delighted to see none other than fellow blogger John Winn doing a circuit fresh from his return from Swansea. We look forward to his account of proceedings.
Saturday 27th May began in warm sunshine with a prompt noon start for the Yorkshire Academy taking on Hull at Weetwood, Leeds in the Yorkshire Premier League North. Current form suggested an Academy victory against the lowly visitors but they put up some stern resistance from opener Simpson 70 not out and skipper Grey 43 which had taken them to 128-2 in thirty overs. Around two o'clock the approaching dark clouds from the south west which had been getting nearer and nearer finally released a very heavy downpour which drove the players and spectators indoors or to their cars.
Two hours later the sun came out again and we returned to the ground, but still no play in progress.
We had seen play had re-started just across the road at New Rover who were playing Bardsey in Division three of the Aire Wharfe league. Here we were in time to see Mark Dinsdale progress from 80 to 123 before he was out after some big hitting which took the home side's score to 270-8. At which point they declared after only 45 overs. This gave Bardsey an equal number of overs in which to go for the rather daunting target. They made a brave attempt but finished 44 runs short on 226-9.
News had by then filtered in that both the game at Weetwood and Yorkshire's one day friendly with South Africa A at Headingley had been abandoned without any further play. It transpired that the rain over Yorkshire had been very hit and miss and the Academy were most unlucky to have the only game in their league which was abandoned, all the others having a positive result.
A different day on Sunday both in terms of the weather and the type of cricket we watched. Rather than make the long journey to Nottingham for County Championship cricket on Bank Holiday Sunday where Notts had already made Gloucester follow on, we trawled the internet for something more local.
We had cancelled a proposed trip to Ampleforth College a couple of weeks ago due to wet weather so felt very fortunate to discover a game between the Old Amplefordians and Yorkshire Gentlemen scheduled for 11.30 on Sunday. Added interest as well when we discovered a girl's cricket festival on the adjacent number two ground between Yorkshire Under 15s North and Yorkshire Under 15s South.
The beautiful sunny weather lasted the whole day through and the wonderful setting of Ampleforth as ever was a delight. We also revelled in this old fashioned form of cricket, no overs involved, lunch at 1.30, a declaration mid-afternoon, tea at 4.30 and the last hour started at 5.30. The first person we spotted was the ubiquitous Geoff Barker (have bat will travel) who now plays for the Olicanian Club in Ilkley, but is best known to us for his regular appearances at the end of season Arthington cricket festival in September and October.
Geoff was sitting with his pads on, ready to go in at number three, and had quite a long wait before he entered the fray as the openers put on a leisurely fifty odd runs in about an hour and a half. Sadly it was not his day and he was given out lbw for only one and had to make the long walk back to the impressive pavilion.
During the lunch interval we were able to watch the start of the girls' match on the next door ground, with it's small black and white, almost doll's house like pavilion. They were extremely enthusiastic and watched by a large crowd of proud parents and grandparents around this delightful small ground.
It all reminded me of the many schoolboys festivals for under fifteens which were staged here until a few years ago, when you would see four games going on simultaneously on the different pitches available. Don Wilson, the former Yorkshire spinner was then in residence as the cricket coach and always made a most humorous farewell speech when presenting the prizes.
After that we saw the visitor centre and the tea room in the Abbey premises. What an imposing structure it is and how lucky the pupils at the College, who have some of the best sporting facilities anywhere with cricket and rugby being the two most popular sports. The Yorkshire Gentlemen had lost wickets fairly steadily during all this and finally declared at 153-9. Nothing particularly exciting occurred although opening batsman O'Kelly top scored with a rather dour 60. It didn't really matter with the occasional striped blazer doing a circuit or two and some excellent looking picnics being eaten on the boundary edge, the atmosphere was of cricket days of long ago and how refreshing it was.
Making our way home via country lanes we could not resist making a slight detour to call in at the very off the beaten track village of Sessay, last visited about twenty years ago. The local team are of course the current holders of the national village knock out trophy and were defending their title against Moorsholm from the other side of the North Yorkshire Moors, near Saltburn.
The visitors had batted first and were all out for 122. Sessay were well in control and we saw them to an easy victory with wickets in hand in front of a very large crowd at yet another attractive ground, with a distant view of the White Horse carved into the hillside above Kilburn. Another very pleasant occasion and we were delighted to see none other than fellow blogger John Winn doing a circuit fresh from his return from Swansea. We look forward to his account of proceedings.
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