Yorkshire turn the screw on students

Posted by Tony Hutton



Leeds/Bradford MCCU take the field at Headingley

Yorkshire will be happy enough no doubt after giving the students of Leeds/Bradford University a bit of a thrashing. It was glorified net practice for much of the time and hard to criticise the Yorkshire batsman for taking full advantage of the friendly conditions. Many people thought that Adam Lyth could have retired at lunchtime to give the lower order some much needed practice, but the confident left hander batted on towards the record number of double centuries for Yorkshire. Sadly he was thwarted just short of his target when part time bowler Will Cook got one to keep low and hit off stump.

Adam Lyth on strike

So after Alex Lee's rapid century on Day 1 and Lyth's 194 at a somewhat slower pace the following day, only Elliot Callis missed out being lbw to the perservering Bocking for just 17. New captain Gary Ballance, Jack Leaning after a slow start, and well in form Tim Bresnan all made useful runs and Yorkshire eventually declared on 543-5 scored in 120 overs.

One tired wicketkeeper and umpire as the score reaches 500

Leeds/Bradford's new look side, with nine newcomers this season had a hard time but will no doubt improve when the University championship comes around in the near future with a game against Cambridge University, who failed to distinguish themselves at all in their game with Lancashire. Before that they have a three day home game with Worcestershire at Weetwood just up the road from Headingley on Friday. Of course there is a most unfortunate clash of fixtures with Yorkshire beginning their first championship match with Hampshire at Headingley on the same day. As I have said many times before the fixture planners have no knowledge of geography whatsoever.

Afternoon sunshine on day two.

Good to see Richard Damms, the Yorkshire Academy Coach, just back from Sri Lanka with the England under 16s, before the third day when the University resumed a long way behind on 40-0 in front of a sparse crowd under thick cloud cover and temperatures somewhat lower than the previous day's sunshine. Wickets soon fell at regular intervals with good opening spells from Bresnan and Coad, who has done himself no harm at all in this game. Acting captain Steve Bullen made a solid 29 at the top of the order and the Scotland wicketkeeper Craig Wallace, the oldest man in the side, also looks a useful player with a sound 32.

After Bradford Grammar School boy Peter McDermott had been out lbw to Patterson for the second time in the game and Potticary, the wicketkeeper who I understand will play league cricket for Harrogate, was also lbw to the part time spin of Lyth the game was all but over at lunchtime. However as the sun at last broke through in the early afternoon a spirited partnership of 66 between Shropshire lad Will Cook and Lancastrian Dan Houghton provided some entertainment. Cook made top score of 42 and Houghton 29, with four fours and one six.

Azeem Rafiq got a bit of punishment, but took the last three wickets of the innings to finish with 3-50, the best figures yet again came from Tim Bresnan with 3-12 from eight overs. So really a good performance from all the Yorkshire lads with the possible exceptions of Callis and Shaw, who need to put in some good performances in the second eleven. The seconds had a good day at Nottingham yesterday with a century for Matthew Waite and four wickets for James Wainman. Things looking good for when the serious stuff starts on Friday.