Warwickshire v Lancashire: Bob Willis Trophy final, day two – live! | Sport

“It’s good to see that Freddie Gardner makes the side,” taps Mike Daniels. “A fine batter who did much for the County and local cricket in Coventry. The local U21 midweek competition was fought for the Fred Gardner trophy and it was an honour if you won it.
Having bowled to 3 of that top 5, Fred’s pads seemed the largest, you might get past the bat but there was no way you were bowling him.

“Great work from the Bears these past two days, on top of the Villans storming Old Trafford on Saturday, then Birmingham seems to be “Lording” it over Manchester in sporting terms. Come on You Bears/UTV.”

Stole a pocket of summer back, on a sunny bench outside the pavilion, warm enough to let shoulders slip back down from around the ears. Returned just in time to see Rob Yates swing at a wide one from Parky and be caught at slip for 113 rather lovely runs. Warwicks 243 for 2, a lead of 165.

A strange choice from Ian Watmore, to tackle the Pakistan subject by speaking to two papers – the Mail and the Telegraph – but not open the floor to everyone.

A nice little standing ovation for Yates from the members as they all head in for lunch.

I’ve heard a few whispers about Joe Clarke making the Lions tour this winter, so this seems an apt stat:

He’s having fun, pancaking Wells through mid-wicket before raising his bat. At the other end, Parkinson fluffs a tricky caught and bowled with Yates on 109.

Peter Gibbs has a question: “With some seriousness, can you tell us on Guardian OBO ( me) more about the European Cricket Championship that I just noticed is on BT sport 2 (I’m not subscribed) . Live right now is Germany vs Czech in Spain, later on it is Finland vs Italy. Genuinely would love to know.”

Peter, this is not my specialist subject, but in summary: it is a T10 tournament between 15 sides ( Italy, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Portugal and Finland, England, Scotland) played in the still-sunny Mediterranean, with the final to be held on October 8 in Cartama, southern Spain. Here is a handy guide.

With an eggs-over-easy cover drive, Yates reaches his hundred. It’s his fifth this year, no other batsmen has made as many in first-class cricket. It is also his first away from Edgbaston. A lovely interview with him here by Nick Friend of The Cricketer, explaining that in that breakthrough hundred against Essex, Vihari told him to treat Simon Harmer like a club bowler.

I’ve had an email entitled tsk from Geoff Wignall. “Hello Tanya,I’m not sure that typing Hegg instead of Engineer in the best postwar Lancs XI can be put down to a simple typo. No pudding for you I’m afraid.And Chappell ahead of Higgs might cause at least one eyebrow to twitch, wonderful as Chappell was.”

Chappell never got his England cap, so gets one from me instead. And yes, I’m sorry for letting Engineer sob into his hanky, but we only allowed ourselves two overseas players.

Yates and Rhodes brings up the fifty partnership, another fifty partnership, as the Warwickshire ship sails merrily over the horizon, sundowners on ice. Incidentally, I missed this fantastic stat from yesterday:

With Warwickshire cruising at 175-1, Parky gets a go. I’m trying to work out how cold his hands are, the only clue when he doesn’t pick up a return cleanly in his follow-through. Pity the poor spinner in April and near-October.

A great piece by Raf on an England Women’s A tour of Australia – though not sure how up in the air this is.

And news from Pakistan, where Wasim Khan, one of cricket’s good guys, has stepped down from his job with the PCA as the fallout from England’s withdrawal from the tour continues.

In an attempt to jolly along people who might be asleep at the back, here is our attempt at best Lancashire and Warwickshire post-war XIs:

Lancashire: Atherton, Washbrook, Crawley, Lloyd, Hegg, Flintoff,, Chapple, Wasim Akram, Statham, Anderson, Tattersall. Coach: David Lloyd.

Warwickshire: Amiss, Gardner, Trott, Lara, Bell, MJK Smith, Piper, Cartwright, Donald, Hollies, Willis. Coach: Bob Woolmer.

Sibley turns Blatherwick off his ankles and down to the fine leg boundary. Happy to see him back in the runs after a summer of international disappointment.

Tom Bailey has the ball at the pavilion end, where a scattering of members are spread over the (newly upholstered) benches. He delivers a maiden, a couple of bat skidders, as Rob Yates tries to regain yesterday’s pizazz.

And so the season comes full circle: on the Lord’s outfield the players practise in woolly hats while the poor stewards standing in the shade try to rub life back into their fingers.

The second day begins with Warwickshire fluffing out their tail feathers, a lead of 42 and ten wickets in hand, after Lancashire were spatchcocked for 78.

Meanwhile, here’s how Tuesday’s play unfolded …