Village Cup Quarter Finals

Posted by John Winn

The quarter finals of the National Village Cup will be played on Sunday July 23rd and the ties are as follows

Langtons v Astwood Bank

Falkland or Sessay v Hawk Green

Bledlow v Reed

Aston Rowant v Ynystawe

The tie last Sunday between Falkland and Sessay was abandoned due to rain and will be replayed at Sessay this Sunday. Falkland are hoping to bring a coach load of supporters. Bar manager at Sessay, don't be caught short!

Been to the Test Match

posted by John Winn

I have for a long time been a ticker of lists. All though well off the pace now at one time (1989)  I had visited all the then 92 football league grounds and if the county championship tables stay as they are until the end of the season, 2018 will hopefully enable me to complete a project I started almost 30 years ago, namely seeing every county play every other county at least once in championship cricket. I bear no malice towards Somerset or Warwickshire but should these two be relegated and Gloucestershire and Leicestershire stay where they are then I should be able to tick off the last four from a list of 153. Until yesterday however an obvious gap in my pcw cv was that I had never seen test cricket at Lord's, that is now rectified after a wonderful day out on Saturday

It must have been before last Christmas that I mentioned this omission to my friend and neighbour John Gawthrope who before you could say Tom Kohler- Cadmore had secured tickets for the Grandstand and then picked up  a wonderful last gasp bargain on Virgin East Coast. Thus it was that John and I together with another Yorkshire cricket enthusiast and neighbour, Hugh Thompson, found ourselves boarding a train at Westfield Westgate at 5:45 yesterday morning bound for the Saturday of the Lord's test, an occasion that ranks for some alongside Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and Henley Regatta in the social calendar. Higher in my scheme of things.

John and Hugh were very anxious that we should be able to watch the Lions' match before wickets were pitched and to assist in this Lord's opened the gates early and showed the match on two big screens, albeit without commentary, although as Hugh said this did at least spare us Stuart Barnes. The drawn series put us in a good frame of mind for the cricket and a lively morning's play followed. The afternoon was a bit more turgid as were we after lunchtime refreshment. Jennings, lucky to be selected before Stoneman on this season's form, never seemed comfortable and was rather over reliant on reverse sweeps to score runs. In mitigation the fall of nineteen wickets today might suggest that batting on Saturday was not that easy.

A signalling problem at Doncaster slightly delayed our return journey but that was but a tiny speck of inconvenience on what had been a memorable day. All the things that I hate about test matches: Mexican waves, fancy dress, beer glass snakes, banal  chanting and all the other things Michael Vaughan seems to like, were mercifully absent. Instead we had helpful friendly stewards, unbroken sunshine and England finishing the day in a strong position which they cashed in on this afternoon. On the deficit side you could count rip off food prices, we took our own, disqualification from the magnum lawn because we had only a standard size bottle of champagne and the almost inevitable windbag in our ears. What do they know of cricket who only test cricket know? 'Do Yorkshire still insist on all their players being born in Yorkshire?' suggests you are not abreast of county cricket. These things aside it was a memorable day and I would not be averse to a return trip when India come NW8 next year.

Australian veterans on tour

Posted by Tony Hutton

Friday 7th July and a rare match for a Friday afternoon. The Australian over 60s are in town having embarked on an ambitious tour of England, Scotland and Wales which lasts for almost the whole of July. They had won their first two games earlier in the week and today were in Harrogate to face perhaps their strongest opposition so far, the Yorkshire over 60s. Having found their detailed schedule on their website the only thing that was missing was the start time. We turned up just after 1 p.m. for a 45 over a side game only to find the game had started at noon and the Aussies were already 50-4.

The Australian over 60s batting at Harrogate


First thing on the agenda was to get hold of an excellent tour booklet with details of all the players who had played grade cricket of a good standard in their earlier careers. This also confirmed the tours of both England and Australia have been made almost every year since 2011 and that unofficially the winner of each series becomes the custodian of 'The Grey Ashes'. England hold the title after a successful tour last year. This year's tour includes three one day internationals with England and one each against Scotland and Wales.

The Australian flag flies at Harrogate


However back to today's game and the Aussies were in a bit of trouble for the first time having already beaten East Anglia and Lincolnshire in their first two fixtures. Martin Ivill, the Yorkshire captain had already taken three of the four wickets to fall and with other league cricketers of renown like Mick Scott, Murphy Walwyn and Phil Taylor in their ranks the bowling looked well up to standard. Wickets continued to fall and with Australia 92-7 hopes of a Yorkshire victory were high.

This all changed as an eighth wicket partnership of 85 between vice captain Greg Quinn and Keith Christiansen who both scored fifties turned things around. Quinn retired on reaching his half century and Christiansen stayed there until the end. He was cheered on by his daughter and reach his fifty with four off the last ball of the innings. Australia 202 -7 in 45 overs - a challenging target.

Gregg Quinn retires on fifty not out.

Keith Christiansen acknowledges the applause at the end of the innings.

The Yorkshire players leave the field with wicketkeeper Tommy Stafford on the left.


The Yorkshire opening pair of John Flintoff and Martin Ivill batted with confidence against a varied Australian attack. They put on 59 for the first wicket when Ivill was bowled for 21 and continued to prosper when Miles Rawlings who still plays for one of the Harrogate teams at weekends joined Flintoff. They took the score to 138 with Flintoff doing most of the scoring and he was just six runs short of a century off 99 balls when he was dismissed.

A mid innings collapse then took place and the score plummeted from 138-1 to 140-5. This was largely due to some good bowling by skipper Murray Harrison who took four wickets for fifteen runs off six overs. Another wicket fell and Yorkshire were 169-6 after forty overs, so 34 required off the last five overs. Harrison chipped in with two more wickets for splendid figures of 6-27. Rex Bennett, who had earlier taken the vital wicket of Flintoff, finished the proceedings by bowling Phil Taylor in the last over. Yorkshire all out for 192 and Australia won by ten runs.

Excellent entertainment all round and a game that went to the wire was enjoyed by both teams.
The Australians play Durham at Burnopfield on Sunday and then go up to Scotland for two games at Stenhousemuir. After that they play Lancashire at Heywood on 14th July and the first one day international at Westhoughton on 16th July. They also play Cheshire at Cheadle Hulme on 17th July before venturing into Wales and then on into the Midlands.

Something completely different

Posted by Tony Hutton

Thursday 6th July was not finished when the games at Weetwood ended as it was the penultimate week of the Headingley Evening League matches and two teams with whom I have been connected Kirkstall Educational and Adel cricket clubs were doing battle at Queenswood Drive. The previous day I had spoken to the Kirkstall President and groundsman, Dave Hodgson, who told me that they only had six players and four of them were ukulele players.  This was due to the fact that a whole host of ukulele players were to be in action at a concert in the cricket club later that evening. I thought he was joking!

Kirkstall Educatonal cricket club, Queenswood Drive, Leeds.


I was a little late in arriving, due to having to fit in an evening meal somewhere along the line, and to my amazement found that the score was 11-7 already. Dave Hodgson had not been joking, although they did have eleven men of sorts, but there were ukulele players arriving by the minute instruments slung over their shoulders and a packed crowd already in situ in the bar totally ignoring events on the field of play.

Before I sat down it had become 11-8 with the impeccable scorer Hilary Oliver as up to date as ever.
Somehow the number ten batsman Matthew Hallas managed two fours, one a snick through the slips and the ninth wicket pair also acquired six extras for the top partnership of the innings of 14.
The ninth wicket fell on 25 and number eleven had not troubled the scorer when he was clean bowled. Kirkstall Educational 25 all out in 11.3 overs.

Adel now faced the daunting task of scoring 26 to win in 20 overs. As you may imagine they did not need them all. In fact they needed just one over. Opening batsman Zeeshan Siraj, a renowned hitter, was just the man for the occasion hitting two sixes and a four, one ball went for four leg byes and another for six wides. So in just one over Adel had won by ten wickets - could this be a world record I wonder?

By this time a six girl ukulele band were in full voice and events on the cricket field were soon forgotten. Dave Hodgson, looking remarkably smart for once, far different from his normal groundsman's attire, was obviously going to be top of the bill much later in the evening as he needed a few pints to warm up. Certainly an evening with a difference enjoyed by everyone except I suspect the eleven men of Kirkstall.

Scotland developing well

Posted by Tony Hutton

Our somewhat earlier return from Scarborough enabled us to see the finish of a two day game at the University ground, Weetwood, Leeds between Yorkshire Academy and a Scotland Development XI.
Cricket in Scotland seems to have gone backwards somewhat in recent years and they have obviously been overtaken by Ireland, who have now achieved Test match status. However there was plenty of talent on view in the Scottish side, although they lost the two day game which finished on Wednesday.

The Weetwood pavilion.

The following day was taken up with two T20 matches and Scotland won them both, the first one very narrowly by only two runs and the second one by a more convincing margin of 37 runs. Whether the conclusion to be gained from this is that the slightly older Scottish team, players in their twenties rather than the young teenagers of Yorkshire, have perhaps played more of this format I am not sure.

The two day game was originally planned for two innings per side but Tuesday's play had been shortened by the afternoon rain following Scotland's dismissal for 225, with fifties for both Shah and English (good name for a Scot!). Yorkshire managed to pass their score some time after tea and batted on until close of play so theoretically won by four wickets plus a bit of batting practice.

Yassir Imtiaz, who has not been doing too well for the Academy's Saturday team came good today with a fine innings of 70 and looked set for a century before he was run out. There was a middle order collapse and it was left to captain James Logan and Ed Barnes to put on a good partnership to take the Academy past their target when Logan was on 33 not out and Barnes had reached 50.

The Academy side featured several new faces, including some very young ones, who may well appear in the Saturday Yorkshire League side during the second half of the season. These include wicketkeeper Litvin, from Grammar School at Leeds and Harrogate CC, all rounder Leech and spin bowler Josh Sullivan.

Academy batsman avoids a Scottish bouncer.


They all featured in the two T20 games on Thursday again played in perfect weather before a very small number of spectators who enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere after the big crowds of Scarborough. In the first game Scotland scored 140-8, with their most consistent batsman Chris Greaves top scoring with 47. Yorkshire just failed to get over the line with 138-7 despite skipper Logan's 32 not out.

Yorkshire Academy in the T20 dugout at Weetwood.


In the second game Scotland made a similar score 135-6, Greaves again top scoring with 66 this time.
However the Academy rather wilted in the heat and struggled to make 92-9. Accurate bowling and some excellent fielding showed that the Scots had prepared for this format of the game whereas the Academy boys still have a lot to learn. Even so good entertainment - T20 without the loud music might catch on!

Somerset enjoy the seaside

Posted by Tony Hutton

Monday 3rd July and North Marine Road, Scarborough despite it's many attractions might appear to be a home for the bewildered. County Championship cricket starting on a Monday to be followed by one lone fixture in August and then no proper cricket again until September. However we must enjoy it while we can.  The first day was the pick of the bunch, certainly as far as the home supporters were concerned. Somerset's decision to bat first on a greenish looking wicket surprised quite a few people, but new captain Louis Gregory, who has taken over from the out of form Tom Abell, was no doubt advised by senior citizen Marcus Trescothick on what to do.

Early morning sunshine greeted the spectators at Scarborough.


Sadly for the visitors and for those who appreciate fine batsmanship it was Trescothick who was first out with the total on twenty. A wicket for Yorkshire's acting captain Tim Bresnan to set them on their way. The two youngsters Byrom and Rouse soon followed during a fiery spell by Liam Plunkett and Somerset were  30-3 in no time. The large crowd were enjoying this and at this stage all seemed well with the world from a Yorkshire point of view.

As we have come to expect recently it did not last long. Another tall young man, Adrian Hose from the Isle of Wight no less, dug in to play an exemplary innings to get the visitors back on track. He played all the bowlers with equal confidence, but perhaps helped a bit by the early exit of Ryan Sidebottom, Yorkshire's main strike bowler with what looked like a side strain. He did not return to bowl for the remainder of the match. Hose stayed around for two and a half hours and was approaching his career highest score when bowled by a perfect googly from Rashid for 62, which contained ten fours.

That was after Yorkshire had got rid of the two class batsmen Hildreth for 32 and Davies for just 16 and Somerset were still really in trouble at 180-7. Yorkshire's young hopeful Harry Brook was making his first home appearance for the first team after his debut at Lord's last week. We have seen most of his fine innings for the second XI and Academy teams this season, but certainly did not expect to see him bowl. He is a gentle medium pacer but filled in more than adequately with five tidy overs for only eleven runs.

Welcome to the Yorkshire first team for Harry Brook, although most spectators seem to have other interests.

Harry Brook in bowling action.

Acting captain Gregory went bowled Plunkett for 21 and spinner Leach soon followed him caught by Bresnan off Rashid and Somerset were 207-9 with Yorkshire still very much on top. Sadly Rashid turned very quickly from hero to villain as the last wicket pair of Craig Overton and Tim Groenewald set about him in no uncertain fashion. Groenewald in particular enjoyed the fact that Bresnan kept Rashid on, perhaps for one over too many, and hit him for four huge sixes in the over. Overton was eventually bowled for 35 when Coad was restored to the attack but the damage had been done. Groenewald, the number eleven was left on 41 not out and the partnership had put on sixty one for the last wicket. Somerset all out 268.

Worse was to follow in the final session when Yorkshire lost Lyth, Lees and Handscomb with the the total on 21. The two newcomers Harry Brook and Tom Kohler-Caldmore restored the position somewhat but 41-3 overnight was a poor end to a day that had started so well.

Day two and the weather forecast suggested rain until early afternoon and then a clear spell, followed by more rain, so we gave the cricket a miss before lunch to go to the Spa Orchestra concert, only to find that play had started only a half an hour late and gone through until lunch. During this time they had lost both the overnight batsman for the same score of 31. When we arrived Bresnan and Rashid were trying to improve matters but Bresnan soon became Craig Overton's fourth victim. Rashid and wicketkeeper Hodd put on a valuable 48 partnership before Overton had Hodd lbw for 19 for his fifth wicket and Yorkshire were in all sorts of trouble  at 153-7. Soon afterwards the rain arrived, a bit later than expected, and ended proceedings for the day.

A prompt start was made on day three, when things had dried up somewhat, but now we had another problem with a biting cold onshore breeze making things uncomfortable for players and spectators alike. We saw the end of the Yorkshire innings for 213 with Overton's 5-87 the best bowling figures.
With Somerset looking confident in their second innings, and with the temperature getting no warmer we advanced our return home to lunchtime and headed back to Leeds where we found much better temperatures and a nice relaxing game between Yorkshire Academy and a Scotland Develpment XI going on at Weetwood.

As you will know by now day three at Scarborough ended with Somerset well in control on 234-3, a lead of 283 and the following day they were able to declare once Hildreth got his century and set Yorkshire a target of 337 to win. This was never a possibility particularly when three top batsmen, Lees, Brook and Handscomb all went for ducks. Yorkshire plunged to an ignominious defeat being bowled out for just 157 which puts their championship hopes very much in doubt. However they will now turn their attention to T20 cricket and can hopefully recharge their batteries for the distant time when proper cricket starts again.

Grounds for Pleasure

posted by John Winn

Beginning last Saturday I spent five consecutive days on four different grounds all of which give much added pleasure to the joy of watching cricket. I started the month unable to resist the enthusiasm of Ouseburn Chairman Jim Rose who convinced me that I was the man to cover for the regular scorer, Tricia Bryant, who was on holiday and so I had the responsibility for the book in a top of the table Nidderdale league Division 1 clash between hosts Birstwith and Ouseburn. Birstwith is a pretty village a few miles north of Harrogate, situated on the River Nidd. The ground is approached by a track from the main village and is surrounded by trees, neatly kept and with an attractive pavilion. Despite the lack of mains electricity there is electronic scoring and a good cup of tea. Perfection.

Before the game the two teams were level on points but with the hosts shading top spot by virtue of a superior net run rate. Birstwith are a progressive club, running three teams, promoted to Div 1 in 2016 but who had suffered their first defeat the previous Saturday. Batting first they started slowly and although Ouseburn were short of two front line bowlers Birstwith were never really able to up the run rate finishing on 179/9 off their 45 overs. Top man with the ball for OCC was spinner Tom Parker who was never collared and finished with 4 for 37. Brother Sam got Ouseburn off to a flier, dealing almost exclusively in boundaries and although there was a slight stutter when the brothers were out to successive balls, Jamie Bryant, 49 off 50, had good support from skipper Fisher who hit three successive sixes and Chris Morrison and thankfully the scorebooks agreed on a five wicket win with almost 15 overs to spare. Much thanks to fellow scorer Sue who besides keeping me right also managed to score online and operate the board.

West Tanfield CC

On Sunday, with Trica safely returned from holiday, I made the thirty minute journey to West Tanfield a village between Ripon and Masham for an Atkinson Swires Quarter Final Match between Masham (whose ground was hosting another event) and Ouseburn. This is the senior cup competition in the Nidderdale League but I remarked in a previous posting that a number of clubs had not entered this year and Ouseburn's team sheet had only four names from the previous day. To find eleven skipper Fisher had had to dig into the third team's youngsters. Masham dominated the game with opener Nathan Kleinig batting through for 92 not out and Andy Caddick lookalike, Ben Fielding, blowing away Ouseburn's top order. 203 for 9 against 73 all out says it all. Masham's semi final opponents on August 6th will be Knaresborough Forest while Birstwith will take on Helperby.

Monday and one of those special days in the pcw calendar, county cricket at Scarborough with struggling Somerset the visitors. Yorkshire, short of their England trio, felt able to leave out Brooks and gave Kohler-Cadmore the nod over Leaning. Tony will no doubt give a full account of the game but most readers will be aware by now that Somerset won with time to spare on the fourth afternoon.

I returned to North Marine Road on Wednesday, a cool rather gloomy day which Somerset dominated and Yorkshire looked out of sorts in all departments, not helped by Plunkett joining Sidebottom on the injured list. Championship cricket, apart from the second match in the Cheltenham Festival which begins on Sunday, goes into hiding for a month with T20 taking centre stage from today. Yorkshire's next red ball action is back at Scarborough for the Festival when they will face current table toppers Essex. Last chance to challenge for the title? Sadly I think most of the excellent crowd who were at North Marine Road this week are looking the other way.

Sandwiched, and what a delicious filling it made, between my two days at Scarborough I spent Tuesday at Queen's Park Chesterfield where after morning rain which cost us half an hour's play, the sun joined in the fun to give a lovely afternoon and an enthralling dual between Derbyshire's spinners, sixteen year old Hamidullah Quadri and Imran Tahir, and a Durham line up missing Jennings and New Zealander Tom Latham. Tahir, histrionics and all, had the upper hand until Paul Coughlin led a fight back in the evening session. My friends John Gawthrope and Arthur Bartle were at Queen's Park yesterday to see Durham record their second win of the season and move off the bottom of the Second Divison, at least until the conclusion of Leicestershire's match at Hove tomorrow.  Good to see Michael Richardson who has missed four matches this season having two good knocks in the unfamiliar position of opener.

Off to Lord's tomorrow for a prize in the bran tub of life, my first test at HQ. With our train leaving at 5:45 only half a sleep left.

Durham batting at Queen's Park