Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
Following protocol the revered visitors were offered the chance to bat first on a flat deck that was hampered little by the week’s rain. The overcast conditions did allow for some movement, which Butterfield and Martin utilised repeatedly. Butterfield drew a dismissal with Emmerson taking a distinctly average catch at mid wicket, but Martin failed to breakthrough, not helped by some rather friendly umpiring. As the clouds shifted and the pitch dried out, MCC opener Mulholland drove and cut emphatically to the boundary. Oldham and Townson joined the attack only to be met with similar treatment, with number 3 Catlow punishing any given width. Emmerson, with hair now verging on the offensive, applied some pressure removing a tired Catlow stumped for 72. Memon at the other end was the pick of the bowlers, bowling accurately and tightly.
Shortly after lunch Mulholland past his century, and began to massacre York’s spinners, reminiscent in physique and batting style to Justin Kemp. Emmerson’s last two overs went for 39 and Memon’s for 19. Memon picked up Mulholland and Goodson in the ensuing thrash and the MCC declared at 266/4, a very good pitch had made it very hard work for York’s bowlers (no doubt made worse by the comical fielding of their skipper Vanner throughout).
Oldham and Murrills made good starts before the earlier mis-timed a lofted drive to mid on and the latter chipped a leading edged to cover point. At 50/2 the MCC brought on the slow bowling with several men on the leg side boundary. Notwithstanding this, conditions for batting could not have been better with a flat deck, average bowling and a spread field. Unfortunately Vanner failed again to take advantage, his 1st year centuries now a mere distant memory, as he top edged Hampshire for 7. Wilson, at 5, joined Emmerson at the crease and was stumped dragging his foot out to a leg side delivery. Townson then approached in the midst of an Indian summer in University cricket, with the score on 80/4. The two picked the gaps regularly and bludgeoned the MCC slow bowling. Emmerson was in particularly devastating form smashing 87 from 74 balls, a fine way to score your only University half century and Townson too reached his second half century of the week.
At 194/4 York were in the driving seat before Emmerson fell in typically tame fashion, tickling a catch behind off Barlow. Townson was then stupidly run out by Memon, the latter’s heavier stature not able to match the earlier’s fleet of foot. Then the rot set in, Remington promoted to 7 fell LBW, before Memon was clean bowled for one run more. Sarkies hit an unexpected 6 before he misread a googly from Barlow and was bowled for 7. Finally Butterfield was run out going for a risky two, possibly exaggerating both his pace and turning circle. The home side fell 33 short of their target being bowled out for 234, before dumping skipper Vanner into the over sized paddling pool at long on.
This game represented the last serious outing for the 1sts this season and duly followed a very familiar script: Poor fielding, capable bowling and a batting line up that folds under pressure. Of course the main aims of the day where not to be fulfilled in a scorebook. Here the club have engendered a great fixture and also raised considerable money for a very worthy cause, on these counts Sunday’s affair was a roaring success.
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