War of the Roses: Lightning strikes at Headingley
- Charlie Hynes
- Jul 26, 2019
- 4 min read
After the recent heatwave with thunderstorms in the night, footage of lightning strikes swept the internet. However, the second hottest day on record, reaching 32 degrees in Leeds, left Lancashire to deliver the lightning at Headingley claiming a 9 run win in the Roses T20 Match.
Yorkshire Vikings headed into the match off the back of posting the second highest English T20 score in their victory over Leicestershire on Tuesday night with Tom Kohler-Cadmore hitting an unbeaten 96.
Lancashire were also looking for their second win on the bounce after defeating Durham on Sunday.
The match is considered one of the biggest in the domestic game and with the game sold out it looked set to be another lively night at Headingley. This expectation was a reality, finding myself stood at the back of the western terrace with both sides supporters exchanging chants, some of which may not be considered family friendly.
Lightning made a quick start with them marching to 46 within 5 overs before they lost the wicket of Alex Davies to Jordan Thompson. The Vikings then quickly took the wickets of Steven Croft and Liam Livingstone to swing the game their way at 79-3. Debutant spinner Jack Shutt taking the two crucial wickets on a night the Headingley crowd welcomed him.
However, former Vikings player Glen Maxwell and captain Dane Vilas building a solid foundation on which the Lancs would be able to attack. Vilas led by example with a number of thunderous shots which the Yorkshire fielders would be left helpless to.
Maxwell was sent packing by the big South African force of Duane Olivier after the Australian edged behind to Nicholas Pooran, much to the delight of the Headingley crowd, giving him a hostile farewell similar to the boos that greeted him as he entered the field.
Vilas's innings was eventually halted by David Willey with an exceptional run out to see the south african a yard or so short. 144-5 with 16.3 gone.
The crowd were now fully behind the Vikings, not just in terms of support but geographically with the new Emerald stand directly behind the bowlers arm giving spectators up in the heavens one of the best views in the house. I can imagine after a couple of refreshing Tetley's pints standing up to celebrate a wicket or boundary is not for the faint hearted with the sheer height of the stand. One fan who had seemed to be enjoying himself had taken to crawling up the stairs for his next round, appearing to be a successful tactic but getting back down was a more weary and conventional approach.
The Lancs finished on 170-6 after Pillans dismissed Bohannon for 12 with 2 balls to go. A very reasonable chase for a side that had shown their batting prowess two nights earlier.
The Vikings seemed to be continuing their tuesday night form with Captain Kohler-Cadmore hitting 2 lofted drives for a 4 and 6 in the first over. However, on the final ball of the over Adam Lyth was bowled by Croft. Kohler-Cadmore then dragged the ball onto his own wickets to leave the Vikings with an uphill battle.
Willey, who had been unlucky to not have been involved in England's World Cup campaign, was joined by Harry Brook as the pair steadied the innings building a partnership of 62 with Willey hitting a number of boundaries to reignite the Headingley crowd. Willey, perhaps with one shot too many was caught in the deep for 32.
It was set up to be a tense game before the match got underway and was proving to be with the Vikings a single run ahead of the Lightning innings at the ten over stage. Brook continued to lead the charge with numerous boundaries before being caught for 30.
The overwhelming feeling was that the Vikings had the batting firepower to achieve the chase but the timing of Lancashire's wickets is what stopped that all important momentum. Saqib Mahmood was a thorn in the white roses side with his pace being difficult to deal with.
The Vikings Overseas signing and star of the West Indies World Cup campaign Pooran was taking it upon himself to chase down the 171 required with explosive hitting resulting in three 6's giving the home side hope. This added more volume to the place with the choruses of Hi ho silver lining and Sweet Caroline being sung at the top of the west stands lungs.
Mahmood then got his man with 4 overs remaining with the Vikings requiring 31 more runs. The tail end struggled to deal with the Lightning seamers with Dom Bess and Matt Pillans being caught LBW. A late Jordan Thompson surge gave the Vikings belief with the South African putting them in the position where they needed 11 off 3 balls. Unfortunately it proved too little too late with Lancashire winning by 9 runs and moving up to second in the Northern group.
After the match All rounder Thompson reflected on the game saying "We didn't start well and we lost two early wickets, didn't feel we ran as well as we could've done. We didn't push them in the field and it's a hot night and we wanted to make them work.
"We probably didn't field as well as we'd like to so probably conceded a few runs too many in the bowling. Looking back on that we obviously have to improve on Sunday." Said Thompson.
Yorkshire Vikings are sat 4th in the northern group and travel to Northampton on Sunday before returning to Headingley to face Worcestershire next Worcestershire Rapids.
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