8th July
Eldershaw: Well they seem to have gotten over their fit of bias and the Yorkshire management have returned me to the OD 1st team. Was in great rhythm in the nets today so I feel a good spell coming on. I've been told that I'll get the new ball this time, so very excited.
YORKSHIRE V WARWICKSHIRE (45-over)
Conditions: Very sunny, Unsettled, Sunny
Pitch: Something for seamers and for spinners
Toss: Warwicks (Bat first)
Yorkshire XI: Jacob Oram, Noel Mullin, Phil Jenkins, Michael Lumb, Michael Vaughan*, Aaron Nixon, Derek Kenway +, Vic Nixon, Paul Hutchinson, Gary Eldershaw, Michael Davies.
Good cricket conditions. Nice and cool but with the sun out.
Nice job by Hutchinson to set us off with a maiden. Now it's my turn. Nerves and excitement...
1st ball to D Pratchett : forward defensive - no run
2nd ball to D Pratchett : forward defensive - no run
3rd ball to D Pratchett : BEATEN! Shooting between bat and body there and just missing leg'
4th ball to D Pratchett : excellent yorker dug out - no run
5th ball to D Pratchett : yorker dug out again - no rum
6th ball to D Pratchett : back foot defensive - no run
Very pleased with that start. Really had it rolling then.
At 17/0...
6th ball to M Pollard : short and he looks to pull! Top-edge gone high and heading over midoff! Hutchinson charging back... Safe! Gone for 4.
*kicks dirt* *stares at batsman*
Score after 20 overs: 67/0
We're looking in good shape accuracy-wise, but the pitch isn't all that menacing. Still, the batsmen haven't raced away yet, so we're still on top.
M Pollard b Oram 36 (63)
Score: 71/1 (20.2 overs)
First blood! Congrats to Jakes on that one. Full and straight and the batsman had a swipe.
A Wright c Eldershaw b Davies 0 (5)
Score: 72/2 (21.3 overs)
Now we're rolling. I thought it was ridiculous that the skipper would put me at short square leg, but lo and behold a catch straight into my lap. I should start listening to Michael more often...
Score after 31 overs: 115/2
Good recovery from the batsmen so far. Michael bringing back his secret weapon now. Here I go...
1st ball to A Patrick : yorker dug out comfortably - no run
2nd ball to A Patrick : defended off the back foot - no run
3rd ball to A Patrick : on-drive for a quick single
4th ball to P Lawrence : cut away to the sweeper for a single
5th ball to A Patrick : flicked powerfully directly to midwicket - no run
6th ball to A Patrick : barely defended in time - no run
The rhythm continues. No wicket yet though. It'll come...
Nice spell by Davies finished. He bowled 9-0-33-1, but had a lot of close LBW appeals turned down. My turn again... for my 8th...
1st ball to P Lawrence : driven to long off for a single
2nd ball to A Patrick : guided past second slip for a boundary! FOUR!
3rd ball to A Patrick : cut away to the sweeper for a single
4th ball to P Lawrence : driven off the front foot or a bounday! FOUR!
5th ball to P Lawrence : driven off the front foot and 2 runs taken
6th ball to P Lawrence : driven to long off for a single
Well judging from Michael's facial expression, that may be my last over of the game. 8-2-43-0
Hutchinson returns... around the wicket...
P Lawrence b Hutchinson 73 (116)
Score: 143/3 (35.1 overs)
Hutchinson dropped a low return catch off Albright! Could have been a huge over there.
37th over by Nixon - 0,2,2,4,4,0
38th over by Hutchinson - 1,0,3,0,4,0
Oram on for Nixon...
A Patrick b Oram 37 (42)
Score: 173/4 (38.4 overs)
T O'Toole lbw b Hutchinson 10 (6)
Score: 184/5 (39.5 overs)
Albright dropped again! This time a difficult bottom edge to Kenway. No run though. 11 off the over... :S
L Albright run out (Eldershaw) 26 (17)
Score: 198/6 (42.2)
Clearly I've got to do everything myself. My team-mates can thank me later. Cheque, cash - I don't really care.
Score after 43 overs: 201/6
I'm back again! Only because there are 2 overs to be bowled and Hucthinson and Jakes are bowled out. Regardless, I'm in...
1st ball to A Davies : defended off the front foot - no run
2nd ball to A Davies : driven to long off for a single
3rd ball to J Mullin : yorker blocked out - no run
4th ball to J Mullin : driven off the front foot past midoff to a bounday! FOUR!
5th ball to J Mullin : bouncer barely negotiated - no run
6th ball to J Mullin : BOWLED'M!
Finally!!!!!
J Mullin b Eldershaw 16 (14)
Score: 206/7 (44.6 overs)
My first wicket since my debut! 9-2-48-1 and my average drops to 64.
Vaughan to bowl the last over...
4,0,0,0,1,2
Warwickshire 213/7 (45 overs)
P Lawrence 73, A Patrick 37, M Pollard 36
J Oram 9-1-36-2, P Hutchinson 9-1-38-2,
G Eldershaw 9-2-48-1, V Nixon 5-0-28-0, M Davies 9-0-33-1, A Nixon 3-0-21-0, M Vaughan 1-0-7-0
Time for the chase. Jakes and Mullin are in the middle and rearing to go. Been practising my pull shot all morning, so maybe Michael saw me and will promote me...
N Mullin c Aram b Betts 4 (37)
Score: 23/1 (9.6 overs)
Loose shot that. He never looked settled.
Score after 15 overs: 45/1
P Jenkins c O'Toole b Albright 22 (33)
Score: 84/2 (21.6 overs)
I was right! Michael's sent me in. 84/2 and the RRR at 5.7. Me likes...
J Oram run out 52 (71)
Score: 90/3 (23.6 overs)
I claim no responsibility for that!
G Eldershaw b Richardson 18 (17)
Score: 117/4 (26.5 overs)
That was a rush! 3 fours in 4 balls then out though
. Still think I got the momentum going. Now it's time for the real batsmen to pick up where I left off.
M Lumb c Patrick b Aram 51 (51)
Score: 184/5 (38.4 overs)
We're in control now. Well played Lumb. 5 an over needed and Michael's at the crease...
5 needed off the last over now. Cutting it close, but we've got it under wraps...
Betts to Nixon: Driven away! One run, two, three and that's all they need! Game won.
That's how you play cricket! They clearly needed my on-field influence to get back to winning.
Yorkshire 215/5 (44.4 overs)
J Oram 52 (71), M Lumb 51 (51), A Nixon 41* (46)
Terrific game that. Personally I think I did well bar that one disastrous over. Overall I'm improving with experience and hope those 2 maidens and wonderful fielding display will keep me in for the next game. Fingers crossed.
Yorkshire beat Warwickshire by 5 wickets.
Standings
Chapionship: 3rd (9 points behind Durham)
NCL: 1st (4 points ahead of Surrey, 2 more games played, 0.59 behind Surrey on NRR)
Trophy: Bah! Humbug!
Super Cup: Final v Warwickshire
Up Next: The Super Cup Final