Castleford C.C. - league champions.

Posted by Tony Hutton

The Yorkshire Premier League North has been beset with covid problems and due to several cancellations and in particular the withdrawal from their last four matches of the Yorkshire Academy side has decided upon an average points per game league table. The Academy results this season have been removed and it has also been decided that just one team will be relegated instead of the usual two. All the problems have seemingly been overcome by Castleford cricket club who we were delighted to see become league champions last Saturday by beating hosts Stamford Bridge by six wickets.

Castleford C.C. - champions of Yorkshire League North 2021.

This was Castleford's first title since the 1960s, long before the Yorkshire League was split into North and South Divisions. Probably the first time I saw them play was in 1982 when a certain Geoffrey Boycott played a few early season games for the club to get batting practice. I remember seeing him score a century for Cas at Harrogate. Here he is on the back row of a team picture from that era.

It was not plain sailing as Castleford, even without leading batsman Chesney Hughes, formerly of Derbyshire, were strong favourites against the relegation threatened home side, who were without several regular players. The Bridge batted first and the top four all seemed to have got themselves in only to get themselves out when the spin twins Ed Morrison and David Wainwright entered the attack. The home side slumped to 128-8 before James Keast, one of several Leeds/Bradford University players in the side, shared a partnership of 63 for the ninth wicket with second teamer Rhys Crowe.

Keast reached his 50 before being caught on the boundary from the last ball of the innings. Both Morrison and Wainwright bowled their full allocation of 13 overs, Morrison taking 3-38 and Wainwright 2-39. Matthew Rees chipped in with 2-49 and the third spinner Jack Young had 1-37. As usual a good all round performance from the bowlers. Stamford Bridge 191-9 in 50 overs.

Skipper Wainwright led from the front by opening the batting and when he was out for 22 the platform had been set with an opening partnership of 60 with Liam Hyde, who went on to make top score of 71. He was well supported by Academy wicket keeper Alex Kaye (24), Christopher Briggs (34 not out) and veteran Andrew Bourke who was also there at the end with 15 not out. James Keast took all four Castleford wickets to fall as the Bridge pushed them hard all the way, the winning run only coming with nine balls to spare.

Soon time to celebrate with Cas worthy champions. A special word for inspirational skipper David Wainwright who has been with them since a young boy and stuck with them throughout his county cricket career with Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. He is a true all rounder, batsman, slow left arm bowler and always a brilliant fielder.

David Wainwright.

David Wainwright awarded his Yorkshire county cap in 2010.

No doubt the celebrations went on over the weekend, but on Bank Holiday Monday the side were back in action, away again at Woodhouse Grange. Initially it may have appeared that they had celebrated too well when they were bowled out for 150, with the returning Chesney Hughes out for a duck. However, they showed that they are true champions by bowling out the opposition for a paltry 56. All against a side who normally make very good scores and have won the Village Knock out at Lord's several times. This time the bowling hero was Matthew Rees with 5-26. Morrison had 3-14 and Wainwright a modest 2-15. Another great team effort with the best batting this time coming from Connor Hyde (43) and Brayden Clark (30).

With Harrogate losing their match on Monday and high scoring Driffield snatching a narrow victory, there is now a three way battle between these two clubs and Stamford Bridge to escape relegation. Harrogate are away at York in the last match of the season next Saturday, while the other two play each other. So this one will go down to the wire at the very end of this confusing season and could well be decided by the narrowest of margins.

Cricket for all age groups.

Posted by Tony Hutton

Problems with the car over the last week or so rather restricted our travelling and we were unable to make planned journeys to Riverside for Durham's Royal London Cup semi-final with Surrey and this week's under 15 county game between Yorkshire and Lancashire at Todmorden. However we did manage to fit in several games close to home including two days at Savile Park, Castleford, a re-arranged league match in the Aire/Wharfe League on Sunday and a semi-final of the Grey Fox Trophy at New Rover on the same day.

Savile Park, Castleford.

Wednesday 18th August brought an unexpected visit to Castleford. This was day two of one of a series of games between two sides labelled Yorkshire Futures and Lancashire Development XI. Although the Lancashire side was said to be under 18s, I think both sides were a mixture of ages, many of whom have been regulars since the age of 10 or 11. Lancashire had batted first on day one and scored 226-9 in their allotted 75 overs. Yorkshire had lost two early wickets overnight but were soon in the runs on day two.

Duncan Brown celebrates his century.

Hero of the day was Duncan Brown, who we learned was of South African origin but playing league cricket for Scarborough this season.  He dominated the days proceedings with an innings of 135 which included fifteen fours. Isaac Light, the young Harrogate wicket keeper went for a duck, to leave the score 70-4, but a good solid partnership between Brown and Jawad Akhtar, who had impressed us earlier in the season, put on 181 for the fifth wicket. This enabled Yorkshire to take a commanding lead as their innings finished on 306-9 in 75 overs, Akhtar playing a confident innings of 60.

Akhtar and Brown undefeated at lunchtime.

Lancashire batted again but with no early breakthrough there was no chance of a Yorkshire victory and the visitors batted out time, making 158-3 with 50 not out from Shetty and 41 from Tom Grundy.  The pick of the Yorkshire bowlers was leg spinner Joshua Hoyle with 2-45 (more of him later).

Sunday 22nd August brought a couple of unexpected games. The North Leeds v Rawdon Aire Wharfe league game had been called off due to covid earlier in the season and was replayed on Sunday afternoon. However, in some ways fortunately for us, the game did not last long as Rawdon, fresh from their recent victory in the Waddilove Cup Final, dismissed the home side fairly rapidly for 81. This only possible thanks to a last wicket stand of 28 after they had slumped to 53-9.

Close to home again - North Leeds cricket club.

Rawdon's reply was short and sweet, despite a brief rain break, as they knocked them off in just 10.3 overs for the loss of two wickets. One of these was Ben Morley, who made a rapid 11 (1x6,1x4 and a single) before being caught off a huge skier. This was the man who, at the beginning of the month, scored 237 on the Saturday in a league match with Beckwithshaw and the following day in the Waddilove Cup Final against Pool in Wharfedale made another 199!

However the early finish gave us the opportunity to call in at New Rover cricket club again to see the one semi final of the Grey Fox Trophy, a competition for over 50s with the chance of playing the final at Scarborough. The first semi-final scheduled for that morning had been called off by the Men of Derwent, who had other commitments, so Bowling Old Lane from Bradford were already through to the final. The game at New Rover was between Helperby, perhaps known as Helperby the Aged, and the Silver Tykes a collection of players of different clubs and different ages. The number of club caps and sweaters on show was quite remarkable

Silver Tykes ready for action.

However Helperby, batting first, achieved a formidable total of 190-7 in their 30 overs. With batsmen having to retire having scored 35 they scored consistently as one would expect from a village side whose first eleven won the Nidderdale League top division last season. Good to see veteran bowler Nick Briggs in action for the Silver Tykes after enjoying his Zoom chat in our cricket reminiscence sessions. He has recently reached 2000 wickets in a long league cricket career and added to them again today with the simple philosophy of bowling straight. Veteran umpire Keith Dibb and New Rover stalwart Mel Reuben were other Zoom characters we were able to catch up with.

Nick Briggs - 2000 wickets and counting.

Sadly the Silver Tykes, despite a valiant effort, were unable to match the Helperby total, but they did well to reach 160-8, showing that there is still plenty of skill and determination in veterans cricket. Last time I saw Nick Briggs he was selling scorecards at Scarborough. What a shame he could not get through to the final to play on the hallowed turf of North Marine Road on September 12th.

Finally on Wednesday 25th August we were surprised to find another fixture at Castleford featuring the same teams as last week. This time round the teams were slightly different and perhaps slightly younger with a good sprinkling of under 14s and under 15s as well as some older ones. This was again day one of a two day match but this time the 75 over rule did not apply. Lancashire Development squad batted and built their first innings total around Luke Prescott from Prestwich cricket club who scored a workmanlike 120. This was proper cricket not the biff bang stuff we have been seeing on TV recently.

The Castleford pavilion.

One notable name in the Lancashire side this time round was Rocky Flintoff, very much a slim line version of his famous father, Andrew Flintoff. Rocky and his brother both play for the St Annes club but on this occasion he only just made it into double figures. No doubt greater things lie ahead for him.

Best bowler for Yorkshire Futures was again leg spinner Joshua Hoyle. His father proudly watching on in the Shepley cricket club cap from the Huddersfield League where young Hoyle is already well known. An all action cricketer he had apparently been out of action for six weeks with a broken finger but was keen to be back bowling lots of overs and expecting a wicket every ball. He finished the innings with 3-63 but was unlucky not to get more.

The following day Yorkshire got a first innings lead, scoring 285 with runs from Bennison of Ouseburn and Noah Kelly of Driffield. Then Lancashire collapsed to 50-8 in their second innings, with pace bowler Alexander Wade taking 3-5 and that man Hoyle again with 3-4. Not enough time left for Yorkshire to get the win but certainly a moral victory over the old enemy.

Who was Fred Duerr?

By Mike Latham

Keith Roscoe recently broke the all-time amateur bowling record in the Lancashire League, held for nearly a century by Fred Duerr, who captured 1,815 wickets between 1902 and 1929. I featured Keith’s remarkable feat in a recent blog on this site.

It got me thinking: Who was Fred Duerr? I set out to find out, with considerable help from Mike Davage, the highly respected Norfolk based historian.

We were both indebted to the Lancashire League’s historian Nigel Stockley, whose amazing statistical work and research has enabled the league to have a complete run of scorecards, from formation year in 1892, on the Cricket Archive website. This is a simply remarkable achievement.

Fred, like Keith, began his Lancashire League journey at Bacup, but it was at Ramsbottom that the bulk of his career was played out and his greatest successes achieved.

He was born in Heywood, Lancashire in 1871, the son of a science teacher, George, who originated from Bristol.

George’s younger brother Frederick became famous in his own right, founding the Duerr’s jam-making firm in Heywood in 1881, which still thrives to this day and remains a family business, now based in Manchester. It is the oldest family-owned jam-maker in England.

There is a fascinating, in-depth history of the Duerr family of jam-makers here: https://duerrs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14416-Duerrs-History-6th-Ed.pdf

Included in the history is a family tree which lists Fred as a famous cricketer: https://duerrs.co.uk/family/family-gallery/

From what can be ascertained Fred had no great interest in jam, more focusing on getting batsmen in a pickle.

He started work in the textile industry, learning his trade as a colour mixer to a calico printer, and played cricket for a junior team in the Rossendale Valley. His performances soon caught the eye of Bacup, and after making his first-team debut in 1902 he was rarely out of the spotlight for the best part of three decades.

The Nelson batter Ernest Wynne was Duerr’s first wicket, caught and bowled splendidly one-handed after he had driven the debutant for three fours. That was on 19 April 1902.

After six seasons at Bacup he moved to Ramsbottom, now living in nearby Edenfield and married to Margaret from 1898. The wickets tumbled as he came on to bowl, and in three seasons he captured 100 wickets: 101 at a cost of 11.48 in 1911, 109 at 8.82 in 1916, 102 at 10.10 in 1919.

Some high-profile professionals, many with Test match experience, were engaged as professionals but quickly found reputations counted for nothing in the Lancashire League.

One observer noted: “The vagaries of the Lancashire pitch and the high tension at which Lancashire League cricket is played – both are factors new players find most difficult to contend with.”

Fred Duerr

Fred Duerr was undoubtedly one of the greatest- if not the greatest- bowlers in the illustrious history of the League.

Along with Alf Pollard of Nelson and Colne and Fred Hartley, an amateur and professional, Duerr was one of a trio of slow bowlers of great ability who might well have been looked after by Lancashire County. Only Hartley made it to first-class cricket, his two appearances separated by 21 years, his debut in 1924, his next and final game the Hedley Verity memorial match in 1945.

Pollard and Hartley’s bowling records stand comparison with Duerr, the former taking 1,623 Lancashire League wickets at 9.80, the latter 1,699 at 10.55. Duerr’s 1,815 wickets came at a cost of 10.37.

Duerr had wonderful control of flight and length and could make the ball turn in a very awkward manner. He was a sportsman of the best type and heartily welcomed on the grounds of all the clubs in the Lancashire League.

His friend and rival, Alf Pollard was considered to have the more classical action, but Duerr was no less effective. When Fred sadly passed away at Ramsbottom in March 1941, Alf delivered a graceful eulogy.

“It was at Ramsbottom that Fred’s reputation was established,” Alf said. “It was innocuous stuff he bowled and those who were not in the centre of the field, but watching the games far off, often wondered why he was not clouted out of the field.

“I only saw him suffer once in this way, and that was when (Australian Test player Ted) McDonald used the long handle to him and scored 40 runs in quick time. Usually he had batsmen tied up, and his innocent-looking bowling had more deadly qualities than spectators imagined. He was a fine servant to the Ramsbottom club and a conspicuous figure in Lancashire League circles.”

During his time at Ramsbottom, Duerr won two championship winner’s medals, in 1921 and 1925. On both occasions the former Kent player William Hickmott, a left medium bowler, was the club’s professional. Hickmott played 34 games for Lancashire in 1923-24.

William Hickmott

In 1921 the pair dominated, the pro taking 94 wickets at 9.41, Duerr 68 at 9.60. Four years later Duerr took 96 at 7.58, Hickmott 118 at 7.41. After the latter success the Ramsbottom team paraded the streets of the town in two charabancs, accompanied by a band, the streets thronged with locals celebrating the success.

I am indebted to my friend MD for his statistical work in analysing Duerr’s remarkable career:

For Bacup, he took seven wickets in an innings twice, six wickets 12 times, five wickets 12 times. He went wicket-less in 19 of his 124 games. He bowled 156 of his 334 victims for Bacup.

He captured his 100^th Bacup wicket in his 40^th match, his 300^th in his 112^th match.

He made his highest score for Bacup, 55 not out v Rawtenstall July 1904.

At Ramsbottom he castled 540 men and was wicketless in just 33 of his 415 matches.

In five seasons he took wickets in every match.

In the League at the time, sides batted on after a win, such as the loss to Accrington in May 1912 - Accrington won by 4 wickets and Duerr then snapped up the remaining six wickets.

He took nine wickets in an innings four times, the best analysis 9-15 against Colne in 1924, eight on 13 occasions, seven on 17 occasions. Twice he took the first nine wickets to fall only for a colleague to capture the tenth.

Though he had no pretentions as a batsman, he hit 60 opening the innings against Rawtenstall in 1916, the highest score of his career, putting on 159 for the first wicket with AE Wolstenholme.

His last match was on 10 August 1929 at Todmorden, taking 5-35 as the home side won by four wickets.

 

 

 

 

Yorkshire problems on and off the pitch

 Posted by Tony Hutton

I have followed the fortunes and misfortunes of Yorkshire county cricket club for more years than I care to remember, but recent events do seem to have overshadowed most of the public relations disasters over a long period of time. I remember seeing Azeem Rafiq captain an England under 15s side, which included Joe Root and Ben Stokes, at Loughborough University. At that time you envisaged he would enjoy the same sort of glittering career as his two team mates. I also recall being present at Worcester when he scored his one and only first class century and was sure that a long and successful time in the county side awaited.

Azeem Rafiq's one and only century for Yorkshire at Worcester in 2009.

Sadly none of this came to pass and the current controversy has obviously been going on far too long and does the county club's reputation no good at all. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Rafiq's complaints the matter should now be made public, without any further delay, and resolved in the most satisfactory way possible. This will not be easy but the results of the enquiry must be acted upon promptly.

All was peace and tranquility earlier in the week when Yorkshire's second eleven turned up at Leeds University to play a four day game against Derbyshire seconds in front of a small but select gathering of hard core spectators. One encouraging feature was the return to action of Dominic Leech, the young quick bowler, who was badly injured in the Roses game at Headingley. He was soon back in action when Derbyshire batted first and took an early wicket, that of Tom Wood who recently scored a first team century. However Tyler McGladdery, one of five Lancastrians in the Derbyshire side played the sheet anchor role, batting for three hours to top score with 77.

County second eleven cricket always springs surprises and it is interesting to work out who all the players are. The other Lancastrians were batsman Sam Kershaw, who was at Leeds Beckett University, leg break bowler Matty MacKiernan, who we remember performing well for Cumberland, together with the two opening bowlers Ben Aitchinson, who has seen recent first team action, and Ed Moulton. Another newcomer was the diminutive wicket keeper Jamie Baird on trial from Somerset.

Jamie Baird , the young Derbyshire wicket keeper.

Apart from Wood a series of thirties from Kershaw, Butchart (who made a century for Loughborough University here earlier in the season) and local lad Nils Priestley all contributed to the final all out total of 299 just before the close of day one. Tom Loten took two wickets in an over to end the innings with the new ball and finished with the best figures of 3-23. Jack Shutt the off spinner took 3-68.

The second day meandered somewhat as none of the early Yorkshire batsmen made more than twenty odd and it was left to opening bowler Matt Pillans, who scored a rapid 44, including five fours and two sixes, to provide some action. Yorkshire seconds were all out for 207, trailing by 92 runs. Matt MacKiernan took 3-40 in a long spell of leg spin and there were also three wickets for Moulton and two each for Aitchison and Dal. By the close of day two Derbyshire had extended their lead and finished on 113-2 with Wood on 67 not out.

Mattie MacKiernan the Derbyshire leg spinner.

Unfortunately as the early arrivals for day three discovered, a covid case had been discovered in the Yorkshire ranks and the game had been abandoned as a draw after only two of the planned four days. Although early notification appeared on the county website and social media it was obviously not in time to stop several supporters travelling some distance, particular a good few from South Yorkshire.

During the first day the Yorkshire Under 18 squad had been training hard on the adjoining ground and eventually all departed, complete with large amounts of luggage, for their overnight hotel prior to a three day game with Lancashire Under 18s at Middleton cricket club the following day. Sad to say heavy rain on the other side of the Pennines prevented play on the first two days and today, which should have been day three, only saw 16 overs bowled, during which Yorkshire made a disastrous 12-5 before the rains returned and the game was abandoned! Not the best of weeks for Yorkshire cricket at all levels.

Against all the odds

  posted by John Winn

As I type, just after one o'clock, the final of the Royal London one day cup has begun on a Thursday at Trent Bridge, just two days after one of the semi finals and four days after one of the quarter finals. On Tuesday I spent a most enjoyable day at Riverside with my long standing friend Alan Pinkney watching said semi final. During the day, as our confidence grew that Durham would defeat Surrey and qualify for the final, we reminisced back to the days when apart from test matches the final of the one day competition was the highlight of the season. The first final was played at Lord's on Saturday September 7th 1963 before a full house, the season's county championship was done and dusted and nearly two weeks had elapsed since the fifth and final test against West Indies at The Oval. Supporters of Sussex and Worcestershire, the two finalists, had had eight weeks to get used to the idea that their favourites had reached the final, eight weeks in which they could obtain tickets, make travel plans and generally prepare for what they hoped would be a grand day out. 

In contrast I found out at 5:45 on Tuesday that Durham would be playing Glamorgan at Trent Bridge today, a lovely ground, but not 'the home of cricket' and in a city that is not on a direct rail route from the north east nor I suspect from South Wales. There are still three test matches to be played, the county championship resumes in 11 days and first class cricket will be played in October when leaves on the pitch may take over from leaves on the line as an excuse for inactivity. To be fair we have been heading this way for some time but the introduction of a fourth competition, the hundred, has pushed fifty over cricket, which in 2019 when England were crowned world champions provided us with an outstanding final, to the bargain basement of the cricket season. 

I have made no secret of my of my opposition to the hundred, I have not watched it on tv, nor listened to radio commentary and read very little about it. Speaking to neighbours and extended family who are not 'cricket people' it appears to have reached its target audience but given its exposure on free to air television and the hysterical publicity accompanying it, so it should. What has annoyed more than I had anticipated is the hypocrisy of commentators who in the main owe their fame to playing first class cricket but who are clearly on a three line whip which prohibits any criticism of the new competition. 

 

Despite the lack of publicity, above is the i newspapers 'report' on Durham's win over Surrey, the RL cup has provided some excellent entertainment. I have been at four matches all of which were well attended. Two were washed out at the halfway point when nicely poised and the other two, Yorkshire v Northants and Durham v Surrey went nearly the full distance and were most enjoyable. The loss of players to the hundred, test matches and covid has meant weakened sides but has given many young players the chance to shine. Tuesday's game at The Riverside illustrated this last point with Surrey claiming to be twelve short, which seems a bit odd when you can only field eleven but tbf there were only about five of their players that I could have told you much about. Durham have been less affected than most especially in the batting department and the replacements for Potts and Carse have done themselves and Durham proud. 

Given that the final is underway there seems little point in saying much about a semi final match but it was no surprise that Stoneman would get runs on his return to the north-east, that Rushworth would take early wickets and that a quip from this blogger telling Moriarty to keep clear of waterfalls would fall on stony ground. What was more surprising and which has rather been overlooked was the excellent contribution of Durham's spinners, Borthwick and Trevaskis, who clipped the Prince of Wales' feathers when it looked as if they might total over 300. Any idea that Stoneman's century might clear the way for a permanent return to the Riverside were squashed when yesterday it was announced that he had signed for Middlesex. Had he stayed at Surrey then he would have returned to County Durham on August 30 when for the first time since 2016 the two sides will meet in championship cricket. The last encounter, in September of that year was a thrilling encounter which Durham won by 21 runs. The win secured Durham's twelfth season of Division One cricket, or so we thought for just two weeks later they were punished for their financial woes and relegated to the second division where they have remained since. 

Posted 1 hour ago by John Winn

Durham stroll into Royal London semi-final

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Thursday saw Durham county cricket club beat Hampshire by nine wickets at the Riverside to stroll into the semi-final of the Royal London Cup by winning their group stage of the competition in fine style. It proved to be another outstanding performance particularly from Chris Rushworth, who had dropped a hint to the England selectors the other day when Chris Broad was unfit, that there was another opening bowler of similar age who could move the ball both ways.

Durham take the field with a message on the scoreboard which read 'Thank you to all our grassroots cricket volunteers'.

The Hampshire openers prepare for battle.

Rushworth removed four of the top five Hampshire batsman, to be followed by two in two balls from the sometimes erratic Van Meekeren, to leave the game almost over in the sixteenth over of the day with the visitors reduced to a score of 65-6 in front of an ecstatic home crowd. Rushworth bowled Tom Prest, the 18 year old opener early on and the score had progressed to 57 before he had the other opener brilliantly caught by Borthwick at slip. At the same total Weatherley was caught behind by Bancroft and just eight runs later it was 65-4 when Holland was also clean bowled by the last ball of the 15th over.

The spectators enjoying the early action.

The next over bowled by the Dutchman, Van Meekeren, who not long ago was plying his trade for Cuckney in the Notts Premier League, saw the experienced Gubbins bowled for 24 and the New Zealander Fuller went next ball caught at point by the diving Dickson from a lifter. Felix Organ not only survived the hat trick ball but began to play himself in, with the help of two other youngsters Middleton and Scriven, to help restore Hampshire's fortunes.

Van Meekeren takes the applause after his eventful over.

A partnership of  35 with Middleton took Hampshire to the 100 mark before Borthwick got an lbw decision and then the biggest stand of the innings between Organ and Scriven took Hampshire to a respectable total. They had put on 97 when Organ was unluckily run out for 79, going for a run following an overthrow. Runs came from Salisbury's final overs and Hampshire ended on 225-9 at the end of their 50 overs. A good enough total to put doubts in the mind of some Durham followers who perhaps thought that regular wicket taker Kyle Abbott might well do as well as, if not better than, Rushworth.

Felix Organ reaches his fifty.

The prolific opening pair of  Graham Clark and Alex Lees who have dominated this competition for Durham so far set off in pursuit of the target, only for Lees after a run of big scores, including a century against Lancashire last week, to be caught behind off Fuller for 4. Clark was joined by skipper Steve Borthwick and both were soon into their stride. Abbott bowled five tidy overs but seemed to pose little threat and runs came steadily to keep Durham well ahead of the required rate.

The introduction of spin from Gubbins, rarely used as a bowler by his previous county Middlesex, and Organ did slow the rate down for a while as the batsmen adjusted to this new challenge. However singles were always there for the taking and Clarke soon found his range again with a series of fours and two sixes taking him to his third century in this competition already. Borthwick was rather more circumspect but he too blossomed towards then end when Durham coasted home to a nine wicket win in the 41st over to the great delight of the crowd. Clark equalled his score against Kent finishing on 141 not out, with Borthwick 71 not out in an unbroken second wicket partnership of 211.

The Hampshire fielders applaud Clark's century.

Durham open the gate to the final.

The home semi-final will be played on Tuesday next 17th August against the winner of the quarter final between Surrey and Gloucestershire, followed by the final at Trent Bridge on Thursday 19th August.

 

Hard graft from Cheshire youngsters

 Posted by Tony Hutton

A welcome return to three day cricket action came to Weetwood's Leeds University ground this week when Cheshire Under 18s visited, to play their Yorkshire counterparts, in a game which like so many recently remained in doubt due to Covid problems with the Yorkshire Academy squad. However all was well and Tuesday saw a prompt start to a match which attracted several eminent professional cricket watchers from the other side of the Pennines, together with a group of camp followers sheltering under vast blue umbrellas in one corner of the often windswept ground.

The visit of any Cheshire side always reminds me of the good old days when the late, much lamented, Sandy Scrimgeour would bring a Cheshire county second eleven to play the Yorkshire Academy either here at Weetwood or earlier across the Leeds ring road at the New Rover Ground. Sandy, together with his then Yorkshire counterpart Steve Oldham would always somehow time declarations to perfection, which regularly seemed to ensure that the games would come to a thrilling conclusion. 

Cheshire second XI 2004 at New Rover with Sandy Scrimgeour, almost hidden in the back row.

Unfortunately this year's age group game was a very different kettle of fish, with the first day in particular proving rather slow progress, with less than 200 runs scored by the visitors in a total of 104 overs. For those unaware of the Cheshire side's last match this may have been rather puzzling. However those who had seen them bowled all out for 112 by Lancashire at Grappenhall last week might well have understood. One imagines that the Cheshire coaches may well have given them the hard word and emphasised that this is three day cricket and told the lads to get their heads down.

This they did to great effect, after the loss of an early wicket, in a second wicket partnership of 71 between James O'Sullivan (57) and Noah Vickery (48). Thereafter things got even slower and the accurate slow left arm of Harry Sullivan and the medium pace of Noah Priestley in particular proved very difficult to score off. Vickery took 185 balls for his 48, Matthew Strong scored 10 from 49 balls and so it continued. William Valentine 31 from 95 balls and Matt Kilcourse 26 from 88 balls.

By the end of day one the score had reached 197-7 from 104 overs. Enough to send some of the spectators to sleep or for their attention to wander elsewhere. Entertainment as ever was provided by Weetwood's ever present John Taplin, happily recovered from his recent illness, who was in fine form interrogating every passing spectator with his very own version of the Spanish Inquisition.

The familiar scene at Weetwood.

Day two provided a very different story with the visitor's tail end batsman enjoying themselves once Ben Balderson's marathon 55 from 132 balls had ended. Jack Kesteven made 32 at number nine, before the last pair Harvey Walker and Charlie Barnard provided the best entertainment of the match so far with a fifty partnership which delayed the lunch interval until the declaration finally came with the score an astonishing 361-9 in 144 overs with 164 runs being added in the morning session.

Cheshire's cunning plan now was presumably to try and make Yorkshire follow on. This seemed a very likely possibility when the pace of the two opening bowlers Harvey Walker and Ben Balderson had Yorkshire stumbling at 4-2 and then 31-3. Jacob Slator a recent newcomer to the Yorkshire side, from the Pudsey Congs club, managed to drop anchor and after brief cameos for Allinson, Noah Kelly and and Noah Priestley who all pushed the score along nicely, was joined by wicket keeper Alex Kaye.

This pair not only put on 71 for the sixth wicket but took Yorkshire beyond the follow on target. Kaye played an almost Cheshire like innings, but stubbornly supported Slator to a well deserved century just before the close of play. We were not present on day three but Yorkshire were eventually bowled out for 281 giving Cheshire a first innings lead of 80 runs. This rather unpredictable game then took another surprising turn when Yorkshire's two youngest pace bowlers dismissed Botes and Vickery with only one run on the board.

The wickets continued to fall until at 63- 6 a major upset looked on the cards with the unlikely possibility of a Yorkshire victory seeming very much on. However Cheshire were rescued by some valuable runs from wicket keeper O'Shay Reddy (32) and Ben Balderson (36*) which enabled them to declare their second innings on 137-8. Yorkshire then batted out time on 55-1 as the game ended rather tamely in a draw. Yorkshire 12 points and Cheshire 13 points which was all rather academic as no play offs between the different regional winners are to be played this season.

Weetwood happily continued it's successful staging of cricket at all different levels this season which has proved of great benefit to the handful of regulars and visitors alike. Sadly tomorrow's scheduled game between the Yorkshire Academy and Acomb has been called off due to problems within the Acomb squad.