Unicorns humiliate Yorkshire seconds

Posted by Tony Hutton

Friday 3rd June - Yorkshire 2nd XI v Unicorns A at Centre Vale, Todmorden

Another beautiful, hot day made the train journey up the Calder Valley to Todmorden
a delight. Unfortunately the same could not be said of much of the cricket, particularly from the very young Yorkshire side.

Their opponents, for the first time, were part of a squad of 40 Minor County and club players, many of whom have had spells with first class counties but have fallen by the wayside. The first team squad play against first class counties in the CB40 and this side Unicorns A, play against county 2nd XIs in the Second XI Trophy.

Many of them are obviously anxious to get back into the first class game so are using this team as a shop window for the future. None more so than opening bat James Ord, released by Warwickshire at the end of last season. He set about the Yorkshire bowling from the word go, driving the young left armer Wainman back over his head into the neighbouring park on four occasions. He hit two other sixes - one into the road, and another into the car park before finally being dismissed for 97.

In this 40 over contest the Unicorns were at one stage scoring at eight an over and looked set for a total in excess of 300, but the introduction of spinner Randhawa reduced the rate as he bowled eight tidy overs for only 36. Veteran captain Blain had to bowl himself for three overs and helped slow things down. Only a late flurry of wickets saw the final score of 290-8, after being 253-3 at one stage.

Yorkshire got off to a dreadful start subsiding to 17-4, including recent main man Alex Lees. The Cheshire left arm opening bowler, Syddall took two for nine in his opening spell and despite a valiant effort from Lilley who top scored with 45 and a late 22 from tailender Ben Sanderson, Yorkshire were all out for 121, losing their last three wickets on that total.

Five of the six bowlers used by the Unicorns each took two wickets, the exception being Adil Rashid's older brother Amar Rashid who had figures of 0-47 of his eight overs.

So the game finished early after only 29 overs of the second innings about a quarter to five, with the sun still shining brightly. So the large crowd felt cheated of a full day's play. However the best aspect of the whole day for me was meeting so many people I know, not only from Yorkshire and Lancashire, but even from Cumbria.

So an enjoyable day in many ways but unfortunately another depressing performance from Yorkshire, who seem to be losing their way on all fronts recently, including a T20 defeat at Headingley later in the evening.