The seconds travelled to Batley CC’s massive Mount Pleasant Oval, very much in need of a win, languishing as they were in the lower reaches of the 2nd XI premier league. At least they were buoyed by having a strong team, with as many as four quality all-rounders on the team sheet – Evan Edwards, George Leach, Yusuf Malik and the returning Finn Brookes. And the presence of young spinner Leo Flanagan meant that the absence of the institution that is Sir Marcus de Kelly would not be keenly felt.

There was a further frisson of tension before the game as stalwart opener Michael J Brooke was just 12 runs shy of reaching a career milestone of 10,000 2nd XI runs. MJB betrayed his nerves by talking left-wing politics while standing on tiptoes before the toss.

The writer was informed by the club president that, in his day, the ground was tightly surrounded by mill chimneys and games were often played in acrid smog. Nowadays, however, there is an absolutely clear view of the toilet block serving the adjacent Second Division Rugby League stadium.

On winning the toss, David Knight had no hesitation in batting first. There ensued the most monumental opening stand of 142 as Brooke and Malik both passed 50 and pushed on. The crowd watched admiringly and in hushed tones with the only commotion coming when all three of them cheered as MJB passed his 10,000th 2nd XI run. It must be said that this milestone was reached with the most elegant and exquisitely timed late cut for four, reminiscent of the type Sir Len Hutton used to play in the 1940s after he adjusted his technique due to the broken arm he suffered while training to serve in The War.

10,000 is an incredible pile of runs, but to this must be added the 5,000 Brooke has made in first team cricket. 15,000 plus runs! All the writer can say, having observed Brooke’s technique at close quarters these last three seasons, is there must have been a lot of singles!

Thereafter, Malik fell for a classy 57, as Brooke pushed on at high pace. He sadly fell just four short of what would have been a deserved century, clean bowled playing for the team.

In the chase for late runs only Rhys Jowett (11) and George Leach (23) posted double figures, Leach’s innings being memorable for five powerful yet classical off-side boundaries.

The innings, foreshortened to 38 overs due to rain, closed at 211-7. Enough? The crowd (all five of them by now) thought so. Probably.

In reply, Connor Butterworth ripped out two early wickets, the first expertly taken by keeper Brookes diving low to his right with both hands. A bit of class.

George Leach’s pace then combined with Leo Flanagan’s spin, and the two teenagers accounted for half of Batley’s wickets between them. Of Leo’s three, the pick came as he deceived Batley’s captain with a perfectly flighted slower ball, drawing a false shot which fell obligingly into David Knight’s hands.

There followed a nervous 10 or so overs as the Batley lower order started to find the boundary with worrying regularity. The game was in the balance. The crowd became hushed again. The only whispered topic of discussion among the crowd was when skipper Knight would unveil his secret weapon, Ryan Beeforth. There was a thought that maybe Knight would not bowl the Conservative-supporting Beeforth at all out of respect for left-leaning Brooke’s earlier milestone. But, as the ill-observed saying goes, politics and sport should never mix, and the eventual introduction of Beeforth brought the game to an early and successful conclusion, with The Bee recording the incredible figures of 3 for 7 off nine balls. A far cry from his 15 over stints of last season!

At 175 all out, Batley finished 26 short and LCC banked 19 of the available 20 points. The jovial mood in the dressing room continued on in the Black Bull at Liversedge, and it seems in the case of the celebrating Brooke, for rather a long time afterwards. Digital media extracts, suitably redacted, seem to show evidence of Brooke still partying beyond 6am on Sunday morning, messaging his great friend and political rival Beeforth with some warm words for him to enjoy over his cornflakes.