PARKHEAD SEE OFF MORTONS CHALLENGE

PARKHEAD CC 277 FOR 8 MORTON 215 ALL OUT
MANSFIELD DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE SECTION 1 AT ECCLESALL RD
9 JULY 2017 --- 1.30PM

PARKHEAD CRICKET CLUB

This top of the table clash in section 1 found Parkhead too strong for visitors Morton Colliery who fell away after an attempt by Harry Wilmott and Blair Mathews to overcome the large total posted by the home side aided by Harrison Vinall, 74 and J Snelling 90 not out.
The option finally arrived of visiting Parkhead cricket ground, in the south west of Sheffield having passed by many times at the junction of Abbey Lane and Ecclesall Rd South and todays journey made by train from base station was complemented with a trip on the 272 Castleton bound First Bus that meandered through the, even on a Sunday, busy suburbs of Sheffield climbing from Hunters Bar to Banner Cross and on with the climb finally arriving at the stop adjacent to Parkhead Cricket Club.  The ground is handily placed for the former Toby Inn, now a Miller and Carter Steakhouse, and a McColls over the road alongside a coffee house take out for any future hoppers considering a visit.  First point though is having arrived just under an hour before kick off the Miller & Carter dropped out of the equation at around £15 a main meal and so it was to be hoppers delight pastry, crisps and pop from McColls, sadly a brand that does not always impress.

UNDERWAY WITH A VIEW OF THE PAVILLION AND EATERY

The ground is accessed by the eateries, I'm reluctant to call it a pub because it clearly is no longer, car park and as you drop down to the entrance you view the ground from the side of the clubs unique pavilion.  The wooden structure is a double decker with changing rooms upstairs offering a balcony view of the ground and downstairs a club room alongside the umpires changing room.  On today's visit there was no food or refreshments for sale so it was a case of a tea interval back over to the previously mentioned mini store.  The ground sits below the rising Ecclesall Rd and Abbey lane which starts the drift the other way, it is now tree lined and well fenced off towards the brook and wooded area which I guess helps the retention of some cricket balls.  Its picturesque with the club premises and Miller and Carter ever over viewing offering eating visitors the chance come out to view proceedings below, but the buzz of the busy Ecclesall Rd remains constant throughout.

ANOTHER SIGHT SCREEN FOR THE SUB SECTION OF THE BLOG

It is a smart outfield that is well looked after and generally any circuit completed is done within the field of play due to its tightness to the banking.  Over recent visits to a variety of cricket grounds there have been a fascinating degree of sight screens on offer here at Parkhead the home built offer is no different a challenging effort by the club officials full of character.

PARKHEAD START THEIR INNINGS

Another hot afternoon but varying parts of the ground do offer a shade and of course generally a cooler viewing spot can be gained.

SOMEBODY FOLLOW THAT ONE

The game then an this will be a brief overview with me gaining names from a crafty look at the scorebooks so apologies to Parkhead if there are any errors.  Most of the Morton players are known to me due to covering them before at their Derbyshire base.

EYES ON THE BALL

The home side got away early on and with some generous bowling and a collection of mishap fielding Parkhead were well on their way to a challenging score.  When Morton took the pace of the bowling with Jack Maltby and Harry Wilmott working in tandem there was a brief respite in the onslaught.  But by the close two superb knocks from J Snelling [90 not out] and Harrison Vinall [74], the latter caught by Maltby off the bowling of Wilmott, saw the home side through to 277 in 40 overs.

A CRAFTED SHOT FOR PARKHEAD ITS NOT ALL BIG HITTING

During this impressive performance from the home side the close by Miller and Carter came under attack many times with balls on roof tiles and one through the upper patio area and down Ecclesall Rd at a pace.  The wickets placement at the extreme right certainly brought the building into line with most big hitters and this proved no different when Morton mounted their reply with a few more roof bound efforts, another couple onto Ecclesall Rd and one cracking the toughened glass by table 38 who very nearly got an additional side order to go with their onion rings!

ASHLEY CAUNT LEADS THE MORTON REPLY

In reply then the visitors were 1 for 1 in the 3rd and recorded two ducks out of the opening three batsman, opener Ashley Caunt offered a classy resistance with 52 before Wilmott and Blair Mathews gave hope, the former with 63 including some mighty hits and the latter 32.  But it wasn't enough and wickets continued to fall much of this had been set up for Parkhead by their quality opening bowling partnership.  At 192 for 5 Morton were in the game with 10 left if they could hold onto their wickets, this didn't happen and the challenge petered away under the Parkhead pressure when the visitors were bowled out for 215 in the 37th over well short of that big total.

TIME TO DEFEND TOM NICHOLSON MORTON CCC

A pleasant afternoon, again in Yorkshire, a nice little venue and on a sunny Sunday afternoon were better than to be watching some cricket.
The return journey thankfully found an immediate '81' to the city and the return to base station via a still loved East Midlands Trains 125 to arrive at just shy of 8pm.