Match report Yorkshire v Somerset in totesport League 2004 by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Yorkshire v Somerset

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A crowd of just over three thousand, similar in size to that which attended each day of the championship match that preceded this game, had a close and enjoyable match to entertain them, with the result they wanted. Yorkshire, although not bowling too economically, batted superbly to win by six wickets. Perhaps pride of place should go to rookie left-hander Andrew Gale, who hit a superb unbeaten 70 under pressure to see his team home.

 

There had been steady drizzle overnight and in the early morning, so it was quite remarkable that the weather cleared up, the sun came out and the field was dry enough for play to start on time. Yorkshire won the toss and put Somerset in the bat.

 

Michael Burns, captain, wicketkeeper and opening bat for Somerset, fenced hesitantly at the third ball of the match, from Steve Kirby, and Yorkshire were convinced they had him caught at the wicket by Ismail Dawood without a run on the board. However, umpire Richard Kettleborough remained unmoved, leaving Kirby devastated, though not speechless.

 

The other opener, Keith Dutch, did his best to give Somerset a flying start, slashing two fours off the next over, bowled by Tim Bresnan. He was little kinder to Kirby, but it was Burns who fell first, brilliantly caught by the diving Ian Harvey at slip for 9 as an edge flew off the keeper’s gloves. Somerset were 35 for one in the sixth over.

 

Ricky Ponting had a look at a few balls before announcing his presence by driving Bresnan down the ground for four, a fine stroke. Dutch ran up 34 off 29 balls before he swung once too often at Bresnan, who had changed ends, and skyed a catch that Dawood could take with the greatest of ease. Somerset were 67 for two in the 13th over.

 

James Hildreth just had time to score two runs when a new set of clouds sweeping over the hills to the east brought a flurry of rain and forced the players from the field. It lasted only briefly, but cost 25 minutes and reduced the match to 43 overs per side.

 

Play resumed, although more rain was threatening. Twice the umpires conferred briefly, but perhaps the resultant uproar from the large crowd persuaded them that this would not be a wise move. But then the drizzle worsened, and at 95 for two in the 19th over (Ponting 30, Hildreth 16), play was again suspended. This time almost 20 minutes were lost, and the match was now for 41 overs per side.

 

The score rose steadily, though Hildreth on 21 was dropped by Dawood off Harvey. A handsome drive to the extra-cover boundary took Ponting to his fifty off 52 balls, while in the meantime the crowd became aroused at some poor Yorkshire fielding on the slippery ground. The stand was causing concern when Hildreth (32) checked a lofted drive against Harvey and was caught by Andrew gale, running in from long-off. Somerset were 149 for three after 28 overs.

 

John Francis scored just 6 before attempting an unlikely second run to a leg-side stroke by Ponting, and a throw from midwicket fielder Michael Lumb to bowler Harvey and then to Dawood resulted in a run-out. Ponting, though, complained vigorously, claiming that the wicketkeeper had kicked the stumps over first, but the decision was not altered. Somerset were 159 for four in the 30th over.

 

Keith Parsons, sometimes slogging rather than stroking the ball, scored 21 before skying a hit over midwicket and was very well taken by Matthew Wood, running back, off the bowling of Vic Craven; 206 for five after 37 overs. Shortly afterwards Ponting went to his century off 101 balls, completing a double of debut centuries for Somerset in both the county championship and the national league.

 

Ponting continued on his merry way, hitting Anthony McGrath on to the roof of the stand behind long-off, but the very next ball he tried to put over the midwicket boundary and was stumped by Dawood, for 113 off 107 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes. Somerset were 248 for six in the 41st and final over.

 

A four by next man Aaron Laraman brought the innings to a close at 252 for six, with Ian Blackwell 22 not out. The only bowler to take two wickets was Bresnan, who conceded 58 runs. The Yorkshire batsmen were left with a difficult target of 254, according to Duckworth-Lewis, thanks to another ineffective display by their bowlers.

 

Yorkshire were soon in the mire, Harvey opening but failing to score. He slashed Simon Francis to third man, where Gareth Andrew moved well to hold the catch. Yorkshire were 2 for one in the second over.

 

Wood and Lumb kept the score moving with some good strokes, with Wood playing a particularly good cut and a hook, both for four, in an over from Nixon McLean. Lumb followed with a superb four through extra cover off Simon Francis. More rain was always possible and the light was far from good; it would probably have brought an end to play in a first-class match.

 

Yorkshire were soon lagging behind the rate required by Duckworth-Lewis, and some of the batting became rather frenetic. But the batsmen survived, with Wood looking particularly good with his powerful pulls, one high in to the crowd, and drives. On 49 he lofted an off-drive, but the fielder misjudged the possible catch and it went for four, bringing him his fifty off 35 balls; 18 came off that over from Andrew.

 

Lumb hit Laraman straight for a superb six, but Wood’s innings came to an end on 66. Trying to sweep Blackwell, he was given out caught at backward square leg by John Francis, presumably off the back of the bat. Yorkshire were 102 for two in the 14th over. But thanks to this dynamic partnership Yorkshire had now put themselves well ahead of the required run rate, and some poor Somerset ground fielding gave away several runs.

 

Lumb reached his fifty off 56 balls by swinging Dutch over the midwicket boundary. Somerset returned to McLean, desperately needing a wicket, but he could not find his direction and bowled several wides in his first over before settling down to bowl well. It was Parsons who finally dismissed Lumb, caught by Simon Francis at long-on for 71 off 70 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes. Yorkshire were 163 for three in the 26th over, with the par score at that stage being 152.

 

The loss of Lumb slowed the scoring rate, and Gale and McGrath struggled to keep ahead, with seven runs an over soon being required. But then they took 11 off an over from McLean and went ahead again. Gale went to 49 when he pulled a full toss from Andrew for six into the much-bombarded crowd at midwicket, and then reached his fifty off 57 balls.

 

l2 came off Parsons’ final over, leaving Yorkshire to score 27 off their last five overs, with seven wickets in hand. McGrath pulled Simon Francis for the biggest six of the day over cow corner, but next ball was run out for 39, going for a quick single to mid-off while Gale dithered at the other end and finally decided to sacrifice his partner rather than himself. Yorkshire were 242 for four in the 38th over.

 

Craven got off the mark first ball with a cracking square drive for four and then finished it off with another boundary through extra cover to finish the match. Gale finished with a fine unbeaten 70. For the first time in some weeks, Yorkshire played close to their best and deserved their fine victory.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 John Ward)