St George's Road used to host Yorkshire CCC home games, but the stands are long gone and the pavilion burnt down last year - it's a pale shadow of the old days!
A very cold, biting wind blew across the derelict wreck of a ground as we changed in a caravan; skipper James Thompson won the toss and decided to insert the home team for first knock.
Openers Miles Rawlings (41) and Phil Ralli (31) put on 95 for the first wicket, the Ash bowlers concentrating on line and length, patience was the key.
Dan Harrington produced a disciplined bowling spell and helped keep applying the pressure without taking a wicket, the breakthrough came when Ned McClelland (4 for 35) picked up Rawlings with a smart caught and bowled chance.
The next three wickets fell to Mark Taylor (3 for 28), including former Ash player Guy Rutter, as the home players were found to be less accomplished than their opening batsmen.
Some hostile bowling from Joe Buckley (3 for 15) helped knock over the tail of the innings as all ten wickets for 23 runs and closed at 118 all out.
The hot topic of conversation at tea centred around Leeds United's fortunes (down to 10 men and 1-0 down) so openers (and Leeds fans) James Thompson (0) and Rob Clarke (4) weren't too happy to be back in the caravan within the first few overs, both victims to Jonty Bousfield (2 for 22).
It was Ned McClelland (44) and Mark Taylor (54 not out) who followed their bowling exploits with an excellent partnership to put us to the brink of victory.
A nervous Adam Tomlinson (7 not out) followed a pep talk with Mark - stay calm, nothing silly etc - by stepping down the track and striking a superb cover drive for 4, the winning runs fittingly came from Mark, as we picked up 6 points in a 6 wicket victory.
Scorecard:
Harrogate 4th Innings:
| M Rawlings |
c. & b. N McClelland |
41 |
| P Ralli |
LBW b. M Taylor |
31 |
| B Hillhouse |
c. M Merryweather b. M Taylor |
1 |
| G Rutter |
b. M Taylor |
4 |
| B Campbell |
LBW b. N McClelland |
3 |
| G Thomas |
c. J Thompson b. N McClelland |
1 |
| D Mercer |
NOT OUT |
3 |
| J Clark |
b. N McClelland |
0 |
| P Corner |
c. J Thompson b. J Buckley |
0 |
| J Bousfield |
b. J Buckley |
0 |
| S Clark |
b. J Buckley |
2 |
| |
Total Runs |
86 |
| |
Extras |
32 |
| |
Total (all out) |
118 |
Pannal Ash Innings
| J Thompson |
c. (by W-K) b. J Bousfield |
0 |
| R Clarke |
c. (by W-K) b. J Bousfield |
4 |
| N McClelland |
c. M Rawlings b. B Hillhouse |
44 |
| M Taylor |
NOT OUT |
54 |
| J Buckley |
c. G Rutter b. B Hillhouse |
5 |
| A Tomlinson |
NOT OUT |
7 |
| A Firth |
did not bat |
- |
| R Taylor |
did not bat |
- |
| D Harrington |
did not bat |
- |
| J Bowman |
did not bat |
- |
| M Merryweather |
did not bat |
- |
| |
Total Runs |
114 |
| |
Extras |
7 |
| |
Total (for 4 wkts) |
121 |
Bowling Analysis
| Harrogate 4th Innings |
|
|
| |
Wkts |
Runs |
| M Taylor |
3 |
28 |
| N McClelland |
4 |
35 |
| J Buckley |
3 |
15 |
| Pannal Ash Innings |
|
|
| |
Wkts |
Runs |
| No bowler qualified |
|
|