were played back to him, the batsman making no attempt to score. Then a no ball added a run to the score, 128 and just four to win. Again Rhodes showed no aggressive intent, although he claimed afterwards that the umpire’s call had been late. Parkin’s fifth legitimate delivery was again met with solid defence. The last produced a single to third man. Yorkshire 129 for eight, Rhodes 48 not out, took two points for their first innings lead of four runs in a drawn match. “The issue of it,” wrote Cardus, “was unresolved – Lancashire frustrated, Yorkshire frustrated, the multitude frustrated.” It was a multitude which needed nerves of steel. At Headingley in 1924 Yorkshire needed 58 to win the Whitsun match. They were bowled out for 33 by Parkin’s off breaks and Richard Tyldesley’s leg spin. The pitch suited the bowlers but nobody who turned up on Whit Tuesday morning anticipated such an outcome. The crowd was in a relaxed mood, laughing as Holmes and Sutcliffe were followed by a small dog as they walked to the middle to begin the quest. Soon Yorkshire were three for three; ten were added before Rhodes was deceived by Tyldesley and Oldroyd clean bowled by Parkin. Only Kilner resisted and the match was over by 12.40pm.: Tyldesley six for 18, Parkin three for 15. Eager to get home to Manchester, Neville Cardus caught a tram from Headingley. The guard asked him about the margin of Yorkshire’s victory. “I said, ‘They haven’t won; they’ve lost.’ He replied, ‘Ah mean t’ cricket match – did they lose any wickets?’ When I assured him I had referred to t’ cricket match, and that Yorkshire really had been defeated he suspended business on the spot; he did not give me a ticket, but turned his back on me and walked to the front of the tram, where he opened the door and told the driver. Then the tram proceeded a mile or so into Leeds by its own volition.” The 1926 match in August was the 100th between the counties. Yorkshire, champions for the past four years but dislodged that year by their rivals, had won the Whitsun match at Bradford by an innings. By the time August came around the pair were locked at the top of the table, Yorkshire having a slender lead. Hot, sunny weather ensured a big attendance. “Never has Old Trafford made a handsomer sight than yesterday (Monday): 45,000 sat (or stood) there rank on rank, happy as sandboys, happy in their applause, happy in their grumblings,” Cardus wrote. The total attendance, 76,617, was the third highest-ever at a county match. Only Surrey-Yorkshire at The Oval, 80,000 in 1906 and the Headingley Roses match, 78,792 for George Hirst’s benefit in 1904 surpassed it. They watched a three-day struggle for first innings lead. On Saturday Lancashire ended at 297 for two, declaring at 509 for nine on Monday. Makepeace and Ernest Tyldesley made hundreds and Rhodes took seven for 116 in 42 overs. By the close, Yorkshire were 183 without loss and on Tuesday Holmes (143) and Sutcliffe (89) took their partnership to 199. Yorkshire battled on. Matches with no result on the first innings were not counted and with the ranking based on the percentage of points to points possible, no results had obvious advantages. Rhodes stonewalled but fell trying to cut. “After tea the struggle was tense – a tug-of-war, both sides at an intolerable strain, the rope taut, with no man giving ground at this end or that,” Cardus wrote. Watson’s leg spin proved decisive and the last wicket fell at 352. McDonald’s pace brought himwickets at Old Trafford in the 1927Whitsun game as he dismissed Sutcliffe and Leyland for ducks in a comfortable Lancashire victory. Such contests between the Australian fast bowler and the England opener were rich holiday fare. Sutcliffe avenged his failure with 95 and 136 in the Roses in Bloom 71