The main purpose of my visit to Scarborough was the 120 something Cricket Festival with Yorkshire County Cricket Club celebrating the 150th years and playing Durham County Cricket Club celebrating its 21st Year. Durham was in second position in the County Cricket Championship Division one having become cricket champions by default for the first time in 2008 when other clubs failed win and take the title on the last day but the following year they won again at a canter without losing a single game. They also won the one day competition in 2007 and reached the Finals day of the 20 20 competition subsequently.
Last year they were in danger of relegation until Paul Collingwood took over as captain midway and since then they have stormed up the table and despite the financial and other troubles before this season commenced and when all the cricket writers and Durham as one of three clubs to be in the relegation zone they were now within a couple of wins of the top of the table the table and one of these was a game in hand over Yorkshire. Yorkshire under the chairmanship of Geoffrey Boycott were determined to win the championship especially have been recently relegated to the second division and failing last season at the 20 20 Finals day against the winners Hampshire.
As previously mentioned I had paid £4 for a two day parking ticket at the roadside by the Villa apartments where I was staying and with a full rucksack with a vacuum of hot soup and salami rolls I caught the bus stopping close to the Esplanade in the town centre walking back until reaching North Marine Road for the cricket ground.
I mentioned on my previous visit, the first to the Scarborough ground, that it looked magnificent in terms of the colure and condition of the whole play area although now after the summer it was looking frayed and a walk about revealed the field not to be the rich flat surface I had assumed. I had first taken a seat in the good high stand above the wicket where I had sat for the 20 20 but immediately found the sun was very very hot. I therefore moved round across to the seating reserved for member and which was in the shade, including a cover over the rows at the back where there was also a walkway along the side of the ground including an access to Trafalgar Gardens. I had an excellent view and close to rhe wicket, perhaps as close as anywhere in the ground but sufficiently high to be able to see something fo what the ball appeared to be doing.
According to Boycott the pitch would prove a flat batsman’s paradise as long as you survived the first half hour or so at the wicket. It also had the reputation for being lively with the start of the a game and this proved to be the situation when to the delight of the majority of the huge crowd Sibebottom had Jennings LBW for 0 although the umpire took a long time to give consideration. Borthwick came in and looked stunned when the umpire also gave him out first ball also LBW and Durham were 2 wickets for 5 runs.
My seat was in the midst of the most passionate and biased of the Yorkshire supporters among a huge crowd said to be close to six thousand and the largest at any championship match this season. Because of the festival a northern Park and Ride was added to the two from the South and West. There was a tented hospitality areas with guest speakers and visitors with Dickie Bird the Yorkshire umpire spotted and Mr Boycott as well as others associated with the club.
The 5 for 2 wickets score line left the good Durham support in silent shock and we prayed that there would no immediate further wicket by Stoneman and Smith who had scored the magnificent 120 against Surrey in the one day game played carefully against Sidebottom who appeared rampant. Ryan had recently gained one more wicket than his fathers huge total of 596. A Yorkshire born lad from Huddersfield he spent a couple of season with Notts after helping them to win the County Title in 2007 as he had done with Yorkshire in 2001. He returned to Yorkshire and saw them relegated and back this year. In addition to the 600 county wickets achieved in this match and he has 79 Test wickets plus 29 from other Internationals.
However it was Brooks who added to the gloom descending upon Durham supporters when he had in form Smith caught by Williamson for 20 bringing Stokes to the crease with Stoneman. Stoneman played brilliant innings attacking the bowlers who maintained a close field and with slips and saving the one run challenging the batsman to hit for the boundary and miss or give a catch. Stoneman made 122 with 23 fours and one six before falling to Sidebottom with the total 195.
Stokes had played more adventurously than his batting partner, surviving appeals and several swipes which missed butt also commenced to score with great power and reached 27 before his and Durham’s 5th wicket fell at 315, 17 four and one six. The speed of the scoring meant that Durham were in sight of gaining all 5 batting points with the first day of 96 overs and they closed over 400 around 425 from memory. I returned to the Villa apartments walking through the town centre back across the valley footbridge and up the hill. Leaving the rucksack in the car I went to Sainsbury’s local when I purchased a beef in black bean sauce and rice, a carton of grapes and a six pack of Pepsi and enjoyed my evening with the food and drink and watching television although I did not have a comfortable night, excited I suspect with the everything that had happened to date on the visit.
The following morning there was a nasty wind and much cloud with the possibility of rain although none was forecast. I arrived early before the ground opened and sheltered and amazingly found two seat at the back of the members walkway with the walkway behind. The previous day I had brought the heated hot soup from the previous day and salami sand rolls which I had enjoyed early on. Today I came light and having secured the seat made my way to the food concession for a sausage bap with tomato and mushrooms for £2.50, excellent value given the £6 paid at 20 20 Finals day. At lunch I had a burger with onions for the same price with tea/coffee at a £1.
Early in the morning I was joined by a seasoned Yorkshire member from Huddersfield who was involved in the production of a history of grounds at which Yorkshire had played championship and who was connected with the clothing industry and with strong views about the impact of joining the EEC and the ending fo major manufacturing in the UK. There was no discussion possible and at least devastated by the eventually result of the game he will cheering that Huddersfield and finished top of the Rugby League beating the favourites Warrington who are in danger of having a season without a trophy.
He was of the opinion that Durham should have declared but I explained that we had came not lose but and to gain bonus points which were a factor if we did with one game in hand. Durham not only batted on but continued where they left the previous evening with Collingwood going for a good 81 but the surprise o the game was the performance of Richardson the second eleven wicket keeper originally from South Africa and who had come to Durham as an MCC young player. He made the third century of the innings for Durham and together with Mustard 421, Wood 20 and Harrison 35 Durham amassed a grand 573, their highest total of the season.
Over the delayed lunch break I left the ground after eating burger with onions to work out car parking the following day passing the Crazy golf in the small park before descending the hill and crossing over to one side of Peaseholme Park where later in the afternoon the weekly battle of mini ships in the Lake with fireworks entertain a large audience of holidaymakers.
There are two car parks around the corner one at the main road level one above next to an indoor swimming pool. The cost for an over 6 hour to 24 stay is £6 for the lower and £5 for the upper with special rate for a weekly stay. Across the road from the lower car park is the entrance to the large 6500 seat outdoor theatre which reopened in 2010 after closure in 1986 with stars of the order of Elton John, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Jai McDowall, Aled Jones appearing that year, Dionne Warwick, Russell Watson Olly Murs, JLS with special guest Alexandra Burke in 2011 and this year Leona Lewis,Status Quo,Katherine Jenkins and McFly. There are also family centre free shows weekends Monday to Thursday. There is also a small railway located.
I returned to my seat just in time to see Yorkshire lose their first wicket at 18 with Lythe 10 and then Jacques (an Australian) who went with the total 72 and captain Gale 107 and as then Williamson and Bairstow appeared to settle in for the day I and the majority of those present assumed we would see Yorkshire begin to amass runs the following morning and perhaps throughout the day. My companion put forward the view that Yorkshire if they could would declare stopping Durham gaining bowling points and setting the challenge of Durham to gain a score which would provide Yorkshire with the opportunity to gain the runs required to win as well as Durham time to bowl them all out. The total was just under two hundred at the close ( I think) with close on 800 runs being scored over the first two days.
This time I made my way back via the Valle Bridge Road as I had gone to the ground in the morning working out how I would get to the Travel lodge after returning to the car which was parked in a space just by the Apartments and then went back along the road turning right at Traffic lights just before the Valley Bridge. Reaching the roundabout by the beach I took the left branch up back into the city and followed my nose and ended passing a pubic car park outside a hotel before coming to the way one way system along the Grand Hotel and Travel Lodge with cars parked in the middle but not a space in sight.
I registered and found that although there was a lift to the second floor the room allocated also involved a short flight of stairs I would describe the room as OK as there was no artificial light over the desk k and when the bathroom light was turned on a loud noise commenced soon after. However there was a good ledge by the window which served good place for the margarine, milk, lettuce and tomatoes brought with me plus the Pepsi and remaining Snickers bars. Without unpacking I had immediately gone down stairs and to my amazement managed to find the only vacant and free car parking space at the far end of the public car park against a side wall.
The following morning I packed early and was down for the car just after eight setting off for the car park adjacent to Peaseholme park. I managed to undertake a grand tour of residential Scarborough before finding my way back to North Marine Road from which I knew where I was going. I was able to park the car in the only shaded area where i rested until deciding I would arrive at the ground around 9.15. On my way I noted down the various B and B establishments which back on to the cricket or are close to it and the restaurant which serves a good range of basic breakfast and main meals for reasonable prices. Jalna House, Tudor House, North Sands Lodge, The Marina, Wickets, The Brindley, Argo(AA) Sunnyside and he Boundary.
What happened at the cricket where I selected an aisle seat in partial sunshine with go down in legend for Durham and as a horror show for Yorkshire. Stokes came on and with his in first ball of his first over had Williamson LBW with the total 211. Bairstow went for a second run and Balance was run out by an excellent hitting the wicket throw. With Rashid going at 219 and Yorks having lost five wickets the prospects of a following on and innings victory for Durham loomed large. Bairstow was trying hard to make amends for his rashness and when joined by Plunket they managed to progress the total but at 253 Bairstow was out and with luncheon interval ahead the prospect of seeking the extra half became a reality when Plunkett and Pattison went with the total 257 and although there was a further defence the side were all out for 274, a massive 399 runs behind.
I left the ground for the car when I had left my lunch which I enjoyed and noted the two hotels there overlooking the Park Manor Health and Lynwood. On the way back I enjoyed a cold Pepsi sitting in a bench outside the local store and newsagents and whom will make sandwiches fresh to order. Durham had enforced the follow on and I was faced with a dilemma. Should I try and find somewhere to stay for another night with the prospect of an historic Durham win and if I was to leave should I stay for the whole of play or leave as planned at tea time?
When Lythe went again for 10 and the total this time 19 I swung one way and for a time it looked as if another wicket would soon fall with appeal after appeal all turned down and with the local growing hostile to the Durham cause.
By tea Jacques and Williamson had commenced to look in control so i decided to make my way home and what appeared the right decision as the two remained not out and put on over 250 at close of play.
It was also a good decision driving relaxed over the Yorkshire Moors but sufficiently alert to cope with the blind summits and those drivers determined to travel at rhe maximum permitted speed and over. Approaching the Boro I failed to take the turn for the 174 which by passes the ton back to the A19 and went through the town centre, coming by the Cineworld and the travelling the dual carriage. way fly over to Stockton before joining in the A19 and home ward, calling in for milk.
I checked the House and the post and made an effort to unpack but concentrated on preparations for the 20 20 International at Durham the following morning. I had used the pocket digital radio to listen to commentary from Martin Emmerson Radio Newcastle and Callaghan from radio Leeds during the three days although the service was also shared with coverage from the US open from four. I guessed correctly that if there was to be cricket commentary on the Saturday it would be from the Emirates and not Scarborough. Had I made the right the decision?
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