Wickets tumble as Yorkshire say goodbye to the title

Comebackgatt and Masters report from a gloomy Headingley. We hear about their travel arrangements, Masters tongue in cheek prediction which almost came true and CBG's love of vegan custard tarts!! Then thre is Middlesex's poor performance with the bat.

Arranging the trip to Leeds took a bit of doing, but I caught the 2.29 from Broadstairs and arranged to meet Masters under the clock at Kings Cross at 4.45pm. She was there, early not doubt, and that gave us enough time to catch the 17.03 from Kings Cross to Leeds. We keep up with events at Headingley on the journey up, and the carnage that was going on at Durham. As we headed North it got gloomy and then started to rain. Fingers crossed for today. On arrival we made our way to the hotel, and in the evening went out to a nice Veggie/Vegan restaurant that she had found on the Net. Very nice meal it was too.

Next morning we made our way to the ground, arriving in good time and decided to watch from the Kirkstall Lane End. The talk amongst Yorkie fans was whether Jackie Birkenshaw , who was at Durham today, would inflict a point penalty on the home side. We thought that the stand between Collingwood and Mustard would be enough to avoid any such penalty.

Overcast, but we had a prompt start. Our Colly to finish his over, then Dial M at the other end.  A bit of early movement in the first couple of overs, and the wicket. Bairstow edged a ball from Tim and Malan (Masters Fav. Player) took a smart catch. Bairstow gone for 5 at 117/4. Masters delighted as Bairstow dangerous player. She wanders off and returns with a couple of coffees as there is a chill in the air. She gets into animated conversation with a couple of Yorkie fans, getting carried away by saying we will have +nine down by Lunch! They greet this was guffaws of laughter. They have moved on to 142 before they started losing wickets at regular intervals. Ballance, who looked a useful batsman to me, fell for 12, caught behind by Simmo off the bowling of the Iceman who had been brought into the attack (142/5). Rashid came in and played some goods (including 3x 4’s) before giving Toby Helm his first wicket, driving to a ball outside his off stump, which perhaps he should have left, and Simmo did the rest. Toby was congratulated by all his team mates and we joined in. That made it 166/7, Kane Williamson was still there looking steady, but rather becalmed. Then just before Lunch he was also caught behind of Helm for 52 (187/7) and two runs later Plunkett was caught at slip by Ollie off of Berg for 18.

Lunch arrived at 197/8 (Patterson 8*, Sidebottom 0*). Masters turned to the Yorkie fans and said “Well I was nearly right wasn’t I”.  We retired to have our Lunch happy as a lark although we knew the afternoon session would be tricky, Masters, who had seen Yorkshire at Lord’s, remarked how she was impressed with their pace attack “ They hunt in pairs” she said.

On our return Masters was greeted by mock bowing form the Yorkies, who seemed in good spirits. Durham all out for 256 gaining a fourth bonus points, Notts 41/1 at Lunch.

Now for the afternoon session over to Masters.

Thank you dear boy. Clouds are gathering, but on the field Patterson clouts Colly’s first ball after Lunch to the boundary, 200 up and first batting point for the home team. Sadly the rain starts coming down and off everyone goes. However we get an announcement that play will start again at 2.15pm. CGB goes off for a comfort break. On his return I fish out of my bag some vegan custard tarts which he loves. His eyes light up...bless him! Elsewhere, Derby are now two down, while Surrey are 174/2, with Hamla and Solanki both in their seventies

The forecast is sadly an 80% chance of rain here tomorrow (as well as Birmingham).  No long before the 9^th wicket falls Sidebottom caught by Raynor at slip, 204/9 becomes 210 all out when Rayner snaffles another catch off the bowling of Colly. All seven wickets that have fallen today have been caught behind or at slip.

The Middle innings begins, Sidebottom to Rogers, 4^th ball and Buck drives him for four. Why have I got this nagging feeling that we are going to struggle.

Chris Rogers - his 1000th run this season. Then out!

Not long to see why, Rogers has gone to eight when he edges a ball from Patterson to Rashid at slip and we are 9/1. Things did not get better as Joe Denly was out for just two and we are 21/2. The home fans are looking happier now and one calls out “we will have you 6 down by the close” Only six? I whisper to CBG. We are both glad we brought our extra layers, it is turning quite chilly. I ask him to get a couple more coffees (no CBG asked not ordered ha ha).

Back to CBG for rest of the day’s play.

Mini recovery ends when Malan is out (much to the dismay of Masters) for 15 and we are 45/3. Robbo sticking at it, but short breaks for rain and bad light interrupting flow of the game. We discuss whether to stay to the end of the play and decide as it’s the last day of Middlesex cricket for both of us; we would stick it out (as the Bishop said to the actress).

Then end of Robson. Another victim of a caught behind off the bowling of Brooks, who still looks like he is about 16. 86-4, Follow on saved though. Notts now 6 down and only with a single figure lead, and with the news earlier that they will not be deducted any points the championship must be theirs.

After that the clatter of wickets continued a pace, Dexter 12, berg 8, Simpson 14, Helm 5, Murtagh 0 and finally Rayner 14 were blown away with seven wickets falling for a pathetic 42 runs and we were all out  for 128. Four wickets for Sidebottom and three apiece for Brooks and Patterson. We had watched with disbelieve at some of the lack of application to the moving ball and poor shot selection. Only Sam Robson came out of this with any praise. Yorkshire reached 5-0 before bad light stopped play for the day.

We said our goodbyes to Colin and Mark who had been friendly and jovial throughout the day although knowing at the end that Durham only need 61 to become Champions.

We returned to our hotel, and then went out for dinner. We had planned to take in the pre lunch session tomorrow but the bad forecast and masters need to prepare for an audition made us decide to catch an early train.

We will be back next season.

(edited to add picture)