Needed to ease the nerves

By Barmy Kev
June 10 2015

Day 3 the match is evenly poised. I approach Headingley with apprehension. I'd like it to finish today as I can't make 4th day and I want us to bat as long as possible so that we have a day 4 to make it very hard for Yorkshire. My thoughts are if we bat beyond lunch with 200 plus lead we are favourites.

1st over is eventful. First two balls appeals turned down, some tight singles and then a catch round the corner. Mala and his runner gone. It was clear there were some demons in pitch which was kind of good news for each run scored. Not good when Simmo plays on. Our lead 142-6. An amusing distraction from tension of cricket the lunch time menu is displayed on the scoreboard. Meanwhile Ollie and Franklin are building a useful stand punishing the rare bad ball and sound defence. With lead 189 and us in the ascendancy we are commenting on 3 close fielders in front of bat as we are trying to define these position names. Ollie falls for trap and caught at shall we say very very short cover. Lead 189. James Harris was adjudged LBW on one going way down leg side with an inside edge a wicket for Saggers, lead 194. Having just hit one close to short mid wicket and got away with it same shot by TRJ Balance spectacularly caught him. I really wouldn't like to repeat what I think Franklin said to TRJ as he walked off. It's a late lunch with 9 down at 1pm as psychologically the lead 200 +. Not that later lunch 229 all out. Target 213. My pre match thoughts met. It should be over today one way or other. A trip to Off License a necessity.

In reply, it's desperate Yorkshire at 27-0. The Power and Leprechaun go for wicket walk our part time bowler Franklin is on. His first ball a wicket. This was followed by 2 edged fours through the non existent slip. Then Lyth and Ballance really looked in no danger to tea. This session was comprehensively in Yorkshire's favour. Throughought match each session was a series of nip and tuck , now match seemingly drifting away. Another Off Licence visited needed.

It was a feeling of gloom and doom that was temporarily lifted by Ollie extracting turn has the Balance been tipped as he was stumped? Another useful partnership broken by Ollie the dangerous Lyth out. A TRJ over. If only Franklin caught Bairstow when on 0 a simple one put down, then strong shout turned down by Yorkie 12th man Saggers , 3rd chance grabbed by Ollie. There was a 3 way Toby Roland Jones chant.

In between this there were updates about England cricket breaking one day records aswell as Sterling and Balbirnie scoring millions for the seconds. There was constant reference which we were banned from making due to montony of them of that Yorkshire last wicket stand yesterday that would have made this game closer. Despite the ban we couldn’t help ourselves. Match slipping away again. 169-4 turned to 169-5 Ollie caught a diving catch at 3rd slip. With 24 needed and we are out of game as Gale accelerates to achieve victory with the extra half hour taken. Murts clean bowls Gale perhaps a chance. Sorry no chance as Maxwell with some 20/20 style batting takes Yorkshire safely to victory, We thought well against a strong team and were certainly not disgraced. But oh for playing sensible cricket when Yorkshire were 9 down yesterday,

Positives- Really good company for 2 days. Over Rate never a problem. A sporting friendly crowd , applauding our good play too. Negatives- We Lost. Mala’s injury. Those 59 runs on last wicket stand where we allowed them initiative.