Lumb returns to frustrate at Scarborough

“THIS is a PA test... One, two, three, four, five...”
Yorkshire's Andrew Gale hits out.Yorkshire's Andrew Gale hits out.
Yorkshire's Andrew Gale hits out.

No sooner had matchday announcer Tony Loffill’s words left his lips than ironic cheers rang around the ground.

It was 1.40pm and, up until that point, the speakers had not been working correctly and the crowd had been kept in the dark as to what was happening, with the morning session having been lost to a combination of intermittent drizzle and a damp outfield.

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“Someone’s cut the speaker wires,” explained an engineering type who popped his head around the press box door, conjuring images of a bloke with a balaclava having nipped into the ground the previous night with a pair of pliers.

In reality, it was just another of those typical Scarborough days, days bedevilled by glitches and gremlins.

As previously stated, the PA system didn’t work properly – although at least it wasn’t picking up an oration from a nearby funeral service, or commentary from a local bowls match, as happened a few years ago.

There were complaints from spectators that various seats around the ground were dirty and also mumblings about toilet facilities.

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The cricket? Oh yes... Yorkshire, after sending Nottinghamshire into bat beneath leaden skies, were made to work hard as the visitors scored 177-2 as the sun came out, former Yorkshire batsman Michael Lumb leading the way with a magnificent, unbeaten 116.

Lumb’s innings illuminated a ground that always looks a picture when the sun comes out, but which never seems quite prepared for Yorkshire’s visits in matters such as functioning PA systems and working wifi.

A fully-functioning Scarborough is very much the jewel in Yorkshire’s cricketing crown, a venue beloved of players and spectators, but such perennial problems must not be allowed to detract from its majesty.

Thankfully, there are no perennial problems with this Yorkshire side, which has been ticking along very nicely of late having soared to second in the table, eight points behind Sussex.

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But this was not a day the hosts will remember with fondness; rather, it was one, for the most part, filled with frustration.

After Andrew Gale chose to bowl on what, in fairness, felt like a bowl-first morning, the sides did not get on until 1.10pm after the arrival of drizzle that had not been forecast.

Then, as the sun began to poke through from mid-afternoon, Nottinghamshire made it look like a bat-first pitch, performing with tremendous patience and discipline in the face of what, in turn, was some patient and disciplined bowling that equated to some quality cricket all round.

Beneath the initial cloud cover, however, Yorkshire made the perfect start. Ryan Sidebottom, bowling from the Peasholm Park end, struck with the fifth ball of the match against his former county, Alex Hales caught for a duck.

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Sidebottom got the ball to swing and Steve Patterson, his new-ball partner, made it seam. Nottinghamshire were made to work jolly hard by the Yorkshire attack.

Cowan got off the mark in the seventh over with a delightful clip off his legs for four off Sidebottom, the ball speeding to the square-leg boundary in front of the wooden benches on the popular bank.

Cowan cut Sidebottom for another four and then had a bit of fortune when he edged him through the gully region.

The Australian left-hander rebuilt the innings in company with Lumb, both men playing the ball as late as possible and watching it on to the face of the bat.

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Lumb reached his half-century from 112 balls with seven fours and the second-wicket stand was worth 101 when Cowan fell for 47 in as many overs, caught by Gary Ballance at first slip off Patterson.

Lumb found another willing ally in James Taylor, who contributed a dogged 12 to their unbroken stand of 76.

A cut for four off Sidebottom and a cover-driven boundary off the same bowler were among Lumb’s best shots, which evoked memories of the splendid service he gave to Yorkshire.

Five Yorkshire players have signed extended contracts.

Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Steve Patterson have recommitted until 2015 and Moin Ashraf and Azeem Rafiq until 2014.

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Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, said: “We are delighted all five players have signed contract extensions.

“They have all come through the Yorkshire system and established themselves in the team. In Jonny’s (Bairstow) case he is firmly part of the England programme and that is testament to his efforts in his development as a cricketer. These lads can become cornerstones of the side for a number of years and, along with other players we have on long-term deals, that is very exciting for Yorkshire cricket.”

Yorkshire pace bowler Iain Wardlaw has joined up with Scotland’s squad for a four-day game against Australia A starting in Edinburgh tomorrow.

Scoreboard: Page 23.