Not a good day at the office for Yorkshire Academy

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 9th August - Yorkshire Academy v York at Weetwood Sports Park, Leeds

Yorkshire went into this second league game in two days full of confidence after an excellent win over Sheffield Collegiate yesterday, despite the presence of Billy Root, prolific run scorer and twelfth man for England at Trent Bridge the day before.
Elliot Callis played the lead role with an innings of 164 not out to take the Academy to a seven wicket victory.

However, today it was a very different story. York, who had been League Champions for seven seasons in a row before the Academy won the title last season, are not the power they were, but despite the loss of some key players, notably spin bowler Dan Woods, are still a very strong side.

The Academy batted first but from being 57-1 they slumped to 76-5 with two wickets for leg spinner Tom Pringle being greeted with a huge roar from the bowler each time, which seemed totally unnecessary. In the end only an innings of 67 from Mosun Hussain and some tailend defiance from Logan and Read took the score to a respectable 213 all out. Part time spinner Lambert had the best figures of 4-38.

This total never seemed enough and York after losing opener Lambert early on, went on their merry way with some ease against an Academy side which seemed to lose the plot in more ways than one. York's Australian Whatley took his time in compiling an innings of 61, both he and number three Booth accelerated later and Ryan McKendry and Collins took York home by seven wickets with fourteen overs to spare.

Booth, who apparently teaches at Ampleforth College and is unable to play regularly,
played the innings of the day hitting eleven fours in his 64 off 71 balls.
So back to the drawing board for the Academy, although they still have hopes of silverware with a Yorkshire League Cup semi-final at home to Barnsley on Sunday 23rd August and the Black Sheep Final against Methley at Elsecar on Sunday 13th September. I understand that the Yorkshire League Cup final between York or Sheffield Collegiate and Academy or Barnsley will be played at York on Sunday 6th September. Unfortunately this clashes with the Mick Bourne memorial game at Arthington but plenty of choice for professional cricket watchers.