Bootham Park v Rose & Crown July 2nd 2006 at Bootham Park

Back Row: John Crowe, Tim Wills, Jamie Case, Jonny Wilkins, Richard Todd, Dave Adie. Front Row: Kev Scully, Nathan Ellison, Pete Mitchell, Chris Storey, Wayne Kenny.

Rose & Crown (200-6) lost to Bootham Park (202-4) by 6 wickets

It was hot. A small drizzly shower before the game barely reached the ground before evaporating as the sun burned the clouds away. In a way it was quite a relief to lose the toss as Bruce Kitchener elected to bat. The pitch looked a belter.

Jamie Case and Richard Todd both bowled brilliantly, picking up 2 wickets each and restricting the scoring to less than 3 per over. A couple of bowling changes quickly upped the run-rate as the Rose boys latched onto anything short or wide. Gavin Stewart and Paul Anderson put together an excellent partnership of 156 before Tim Wills removed Anderson with a middle-stump grunter near the end of the innings. Stewart played an excellent innings, combining stout defence, clean hitting and a few deft nurdles to finish unbeaten on 105. Rose & Crown finished on exactly 200.

Jonny Wilkins and Chris Storey began the reply well before Wilkins's leg stump was pegged back by a beautiful swinging delivery from Graham Byrne. I came in at number 3, largely to play second fiddle to Chris Storey at the other end as we put on a partnership of 93 runs. Storey played an excellent innings and looked all set for a century until he played indecisively at one of Neil Reader's accurate off-breaks and was bowled through the gate for 88. Surely it's only a matter of time before he makes it to 3 figures. Jamie Case came to the crease and we put on another good partnership of 57 before Jimmy Allen rattled his castle. Bruce Kitchener deservedly picked up the wicket of Wayne Kenny but it was too little too late for the Rose. A four through midwicket won the game and took me to a satisfying 69 not out.

As ever, the game was played in an excellent spirit and both teams repaired to the pub to begin rehydrating in the traditional manner.