Yorkshire League North gets underway

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 22nd April and a big day for Easingwold cricket club. Founded as far back as 1829 they won promotion last season from the York Senior League to the Yorkshire Premier League North. This was their first game at this level and quite appropriate that they should have the Yorkshire Academy as their first opponents at this pleasant and spacious ground at Back Lane, Easingwold which is an attractive market town north of York.

Play gets underway at Easingwold.

 

Jonathan Read, normally a wicketkeeper, opened the batting in the absence of Harry Brook who was busy scoring a century for Sedbergh School. However Read did not last long being bowled by Postill for just four. Jared Warner and Imtiaz also went cheaply to give Easingwold an excellent start with the Academy 54-3. Fortunately opener Ben Ainsley looked in good form and he got his head down to play the innings of the day.

Spectators enjoying the sunshine at Easingwold

Skipper Jordan Thompson gave Ainsley good support for a while, but when he was out bowled by veteran Redshaw a clatter of wickets followed with three of them falling to Sargent who took 3-22. The Academy were almost down and out at 105-8, but enter James Logan not known for his batting prowess, but a very useful left arm spin bowler.
Today was to prove his day with the bat as he managed to stay around to give Ainsley support and then started to play some excellent shots himself. The pair put on an unbroken partnership of 92 to take the visitors to respectability with a final score of 197-8.

Academy skipper Jordan Thompson on strike.

The final stages of the innings were all about whether Ainsley could complete an unlikely century, he was almost there in the last over but unfortunately lost the strike when what looked like just a single for Logan was misfielded on the boundary and went for four. He regained the strike for the fifth ball but could only manage a single, so Logan ended the innings with a fine straight six and Ainsley was left stranded on 99 not out. Nevertheless a match winning innings.

Cherry blossom in the background as Easingwold start their reply.

Easingwold were soon in trouble against the pace of Taylor and Barnes, who both looked too quick for the early batsmen. This is what stepping up a league is all about. It was soon 27-3 and despite 30 from Waite and 32 from Greenlay, all the Yorkshire bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to reduce Easingwold to 104 all out. Two defiant sixes from Knott off Logan gave the home supporters something to cheer about, but with a middle aged look about some of their players they may find the coming season an uphill struggle. Reinforcements are on the way I understand, including an overseas player, so good luck to them as the season progresses.