A great night despite the Big No Show

Prior to yesterday, Jamie's sole big-time sporting experience was having the privilege of sitting in the grandstand at the London Olympics as Coleraine rowing great Alan Campbell grabbed bronze for Team GB (&NI) in the men's single sculls. The memory of it still gives me goosebumps even now.

Three years and I thought it was high time he continued his live sports education.   Actually, the credit isn't mine but belongs to my old pal Paul "Merv" Gaile who came up with some free tickets the day before (a favour beckons)

The result was a visit to Headingley Cricket Ground to witness the Yorkshire Vikings take on Worcestershire Rapids in the NatWest T20 Blast.

And why Yorkshire "Vikings"? 

I dunno.  Maybe the mascot suit was going cheap.

Unlike the mascot miniatures.

Or the pies.

But the outlay was worth it on what was a terrific evening's fun - save for two disappointments.

Number one was was a defeat for the Vikings, their first since the last time they played.

Number two was a golden (first ball) duck for Yorkshire's star overseas player Glenn Maxwell, known as "The Big Show" and renowned as one of the world's greatest one-day batsmen.  I'd talked about him a lot on our bus journey to the ground, and his instant demise was a source of visible disappointment for both Jamie and me.    

And here's the proof as the catch which sent him on his way is taken in front of us.

I'm sure that this time last week Australians were good at cricket.