The Yorkshire Gentlemen enjoyed a comfortable win on what was a special occasion for long-standing YG chairman John Skinner over Hull Old Grammarians at Escrick.
Skinner, who plays his club cricket for North Stainley, was delighted to welcome back his club's very first overseas player, Australian Damian Schwarzbach, who had such a devastating effect on the Nidderdale League in his two seasons with the team, when he scored over 2700 runs.
Schwarzbach was in England for the 1999 and 2000 seasons but has not played in the UK since - until this match - and the chairman was also able to call upon six further members of the North Stainley team from those years.
With with the YGs fielding first it was left to two of those veterans to open the bowling, in what was possibly the oldest opening pair in YG history in 47-year-old Nick Robson joined by Ian Ord at the ripe old age of 79 (not a misprint), an incredible combined age of 126.
Having barely bowled a ball for 20 years, Ord's (1-29) control of his line and length were almost immaculate and he was rewarded with a wicket when Hull opener Moxon mistimed a shot into the leg side and it was safely pouched by Adam Mellows-Facer, another Stainley old boy.
Robson toiled away for no reward (as usual) but kept the run rate in check before the lack of bowling in the 10-year period since his retirement took its toll after seven overs.
Phil Mellows-Facer (1-34, Stainley again) then came on to bowl some left arm tweakers and he got just reward for some intelligent bowling when the lightning Barker behind the timbers took an excellent stumping.
However the hightlight of the first innings was undoubtedly a brilliant run out from Oscar Mellows-Facer (13-year-old son of Adam), who swooped one-handed in the covers to pick up and hit one stump. A red box incoming on Paul’s scorecard.
Hull never really threatened to get away from the YGs with the excellent Bevan Fawcett (1-20), Ramesh (0-20) and Wass,another Stainley old boy (0-17), keeping the run rate at an acceptable level.
Robson (1-31) came back on despite his protests to pick up a wicket and one over later Hull declared on 222-6 and YG set about the chase with gusto.
A welcome return to form saw James Van De Merwe take down the Hull attack with aplomb. He played some glorious shots off his pads, and at times there was just no bowling to him.
Ably supported by Stuart Clark at the other end, Van De Merwe then started hitting down the ground and the result was never really in doubt.
Clark was out for a patient 44, happy in the support role, when he was trapped LBW and that brought what we had all come to see, Schwarzbach back in action in the UK.
Some wayward bowling meant he could never really get into a rhythm but he ended up 11 not out, as he did so many times during his two years in the UK. When Van De Merwe was eventually out bowled for a brilliant 133, Phil Mellows-Facer went in to make sure the YGs won with no further alarms.
A great day was had by all and a very special occasion for seven of the old North Stainley players to get to take the field together again after so long.
Many thanks to Paul for scoring and all he did, and also to those in charge of refreshments, a fantastic day was had by all.
Report by Nick Robson (aforementioned under rewarded bowler)
