A visit to Northumberland

by Brian Sanderson

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This morning, under cloudy skies, I set off for South Northumberland to watch Durham and Hampshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. Upon arrival, I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Blades, who had emailed me the day before. Stephen, who was commentating on the match, is working on a history of Harrogate, his hometown club, and wanted to compare notes.

We secured seats near the players’ changing rooms. Hampshire won the toss and opted to field, and autograph enthusiasts eagerly sought Neil Wagner’s signature. A New Zealand Test bowler, Wagner had recently retired from Test cricket. Last year, he was slated to play for Yorkshire but couldn’t due to injury. This was his debut for Durham.

The hosts faced an early setback, losing three wickets. However, Colin Ackermann, the Dutch international, steadied the ship, scoring an impressive 96 runs before he was run out attempting a second run. Wagner chipped in with 33 runs off 27 balls, helping Durham to 257 in their allotted fifty overs.

Hampshire’s best bowler was Kyle Abbott, another former Test player (South Africa). He bowled ten overs for one wicket and 34 runs.

During the tea break, I spotted James Hildrith, the ex-Australian cricketer, engaged in conversation with his son. By then, the sun had broken through the clouds, and I was enjoying my sandwiches.

Hampshire’s batting performance disappointed, with Wagner showcasing his international prowess by taking two wickets for just eighteen runs. They were all out for 113 in 26 overs—a testament to the Durham bowlers’ consistency and accuracy.

As the day wound down, I made my way home via the A1, a journey that took approximately two hours.

Back to Bradford League tomorrow in the sunshine. Hopefully.

Brian Sanderson is an ACS member. He serves on the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.