A good day for Rashid

posted by John Winn

To Shaw Lane, Barnsley with Dave Masterman for the first day of the SET match between Yorks II and their Worcester counterparts. A warm sunny morning had brought out a respectable crowd with a number of pcws gathered on the pavilion side: the Huddersfield branch particularly well represented. 'Sun-drenched'  was probably putting it too strongly but it was certainly shirt sleeved weather. Two notable absentees were Messrs Hutton and Sanderson, thought to be at Weetwood watching the Academy playing South Africa A.

Yorkshire batted first with Lees and Sayers opening but the conversation out sparkled the cricket until Sayers cracked three fours square on the offside but he fell lbw to the impressive Russell. Sharing the new ball with Jones was Alan Richardson, one of Wisden's five players of the year on his way back from injury.  The afternoon was enlivened by the arrival of Brian Senior who amused us with tales of his recent holiday in the Isle of Man. Brian had only just been made aware of the game at Weetwood. How did you miss that Brian?

Fifties from Rashid and Leaning boosted Yorkshire to 179 for 5 when light rain became more persistent and Dave and I made our way back up the M1. No sooner had we got clear of Barnsley than the roads were dry and the action  at Shaw Lane had resumed to the extent that a further twelve wickets fell before the close and when I checked the close of play score on Total Cricket Scorer The Pears trailed  The Tykes by 115 with seven first innings wickets down. Rashid leads the way with three wickets to add to his attractive 53 with the bat.

An interesting second day has been set up, let's hope the weather allows a decent ration of play tomorrow. Thursday is not to be relied on.