Showers don't stop Headingley 1s recording the first victory of the Season

Turning up to a fairly unprepared wicket and a locked gate is never a promising sign, then the rain comes 10 minutes before the start and you start to think your never going to get a game in. But a delayed start meant the full match could be played, finishing with a 5 wicket Headingley win.

Bowling first on a wet and green track, Headingley started well with Tom Atkinson removing the opener in the first over. Will Clifton opened from the other end and was unlucky not to get a wicket with a ball falling just short of first slip and a drop at mid-off.

A partnership started to develop for Amaranth on a tricky track with Dougherty and Simpson edging their way into the runs. A change of ends for Fast-Tom 'I can't bowl into the light wind' Lawson, brought two wickets breaking the partnership, aided by a sharp catch from captain Gilks.

Lawson re-payed the favour a few overs later with an early contender for catch of the season. A miss-timed slog straight over the bowlers head was snapped up by Lawson from mid-on at full stretch just an inch off the turf.

Some varied lines and lengths gained Abid Hussain two wickets, beamer - bouncer - unplayable yorker is a solid 3-ball plan. In typical fashion, Gilks went on to clean up the tail with the returning Atkinson. The captain finished with average boosting figures of 4 wicket for 5 runs from just 15 balls.

The weather had dried out the wicket making it a lot more of a challenge than in the first innings. Ben and Garry Wilkinson bowled well early on and tied up Rodgers and Dalby, however both opening batsmen stuck out the tough first period.

After both openers fell, Mason came to the crease and carefully made his way to 14 before edging a good ball to second slip. Baker, who joined him in the middle, went for a different approach. After being dropped 18 times on the way to 35, Baker said to his partner 'I'm gunna finish this in two balls', not knowing Headingley needed 14 to win. A 6 over mid wicket was followed by charge down the wicket and an easy stumping. It wasn't big, and it wasn't clever...

Frosdick also fell to the straight spin but after the mini collapse, Sandy Dutta finished the game off with a solid 3 not out just before the heavens opened.

This win got points on the board and we put out a much improved display. The 1s open up the Glen Road Arena to real Yorkshire cricket next week with our first home game against Kirk Deighton.