And How Are You Spelling That?

Sussex 313 all out 

v Yorkshire 272 for 2 

County Championship 

Close on Day Two 

Friday 4 June 2021 

Played at Headingley 

Today's crowd was announced as 1,897. (Reports suggested 2,065 on Day One). Because of Social Distancing and rules for groups etc, seats are effectively allocated at random across the Headingley stands. So, while fearing the worst, the Carrier Bag Firm were somewhat surprised to be greeted by this superb stump to stump view down the pitch.

But, even those seats didn't give us the right view for the seventh ball of the day, Ben Coad's first of the day, and overnight tonner Ben Brown's third ball faced of the day. That was as an edge behind to Yorkshire keeper Harry Duke, with his back to us. Coad, Duke and the slips went up LOUD. The rest of the Yorkshire fielders, no matter how far from the action, thought fuck it - one up all up. Brown pointed with his bat at Duke. Clear implication. That's not carried and/or he's fumbled & grassed it. The umpires gave each other the glances & non verbals they use to ask for help. I think it was Ump Bailey who gave the soon to be a not very happy Ben Brown out from Square Leg. And really, Yorkshire never really lost momentum from there.

The last 4 wickets went for just 17 runs, the last 3 for just 3. But, it's very much worth a shout to Sussex's Danial Ibrahim. (Who must have been looking at his name flashing up on the Headingley screen & seething - it's Danial with a fucking A, not E). Cricket has been around for a very long time. There's been a load of matches played. It's all bastard numbers anyway. So, records get set. And broken. No E Danial became the youngest lad in Cricket County Championship history to get a fifty. Sixteen years and 299 days. And the CBF were there and frankly all over it.

Lyth & Kohler-Cadmore had twenty ish minutes to bat until din dins. Will they do opening pair things? Because, let's have it right, they often don't. And it's frustrating. Because they should. Anyway Lyth's hit the second legit ball of the innings for SIX & we're back in the room.

A, it's an A in Danial Ibrahim came on, you'd think full of confidence, to bowl the 14th. His first arm turning over in First Class Cricket. Two No Balls to start. Are you playing on different length pitches at your school young 'un? Once he was over that, he got Kohler-Cadmore out a bit later.

Opening stand of 83. That'll do. You two - same every week. Of course those have come at 4.9 runs an over. So, we're not in the 18th over yet. Guys - you have to take the opening partnership further. Knacker the bowlers. Stop the fielders chirping. Game'll come at you fast. Adam Lyth also gone after 20.2 overs. Got it hopelessly wrong. Walked around one which sent his leg stump rolling. Did the old - stand at the crease incredulous for far too long - routine. I could act that one myself.

No drama after that mind. Not quite built for Test Cricket, but close, Dawid (yes W not V - what is it with this game?) Malan & one R, but two Ls Gary Ballance took it to close. 177 in the partnership. Put more on that tomorrow. Have a face to face about conventional name spellings. And tomorrow's Blog will be much easier to write.

The Carrier Bag Firm retired to BrewDog Headingley to find out the guest brewery name & take the piss out of how they're spelling it. Mikkeller. See. Not straightforward is it in this "industry".

Mikkeller, Henry Hops, Pale Ale on Keg at 4%.

Nice identikit session pale. Packed with hops. Rather grassy & drying in the mouth. Lacked a bit of late action if I'm honest.

Mikkeller, Japanese Rice Lager on Keg at 5.1%.

I tried that because I'm unlikely to get another shot at it anytime soon. Inoffensive. Slight rice vinegar smell. But, bright & crisp in the taste. Nice dirty sugar in the finish.

And Outstanding Beer Of The Day

Mikkeller, Kaffestout, (Coffee Stout) on Keg at 6%.

Lovely. If a bit full on. What I really liked was that it'd got distinct phases. Sweet black forest gateau up top. Bit of bitterness in the middle. With the Coffee coming late. Loved how it worked.

Stats

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