Yorkshire Academy go joint top of the league

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 10th June saw yet another windy Weetwood day with a delayed start due to persistent rain for the Yorkshire Academy who were entertaining new visitors in Clifton Alliance promoted to the Yorkshire League North at the end of last season. Their attractive ground is next door, in fact just over the fence, from York cricket club's base at Clifton Park thus leading to one of the closest 'derby' games of all time.

Harry Brook, sporting squad number 88, joins Jared Warner in the ranks of the junior professionals.

The newcomers got off to the worst possible start by loosing four wickets with the total on 19. Aussie opener Jack Beath was the first to go, caught by Shutt off Taylor's bowling and then Ed Barnes came to the party in a big way taking three more wickets all at the same total. Skipper Scott Hopkinson tried to stop the rot and held things together with the top score of 45 and a partnership of sixty with Jamie Butt.

When Hopkinson was finally out, again to Barnes, the score was 100-6 and Clifton Alliance were eventually all out for 126 in the fortieth over when 14 year old number eleven Thomas Brown was unfortunately run out by his partner trying in vain to keep the strike. Ed Barnes who played for England under 19s last season ended with the splendid figures of 6-35 from nine overs.

Ed Barnes clutches the match ball as he leaves the field.

Last man out for Clifton Alliance, Thomas Brown (right) - note the three wise men in the background

With Harry Brook in such good form recently an early Academy victory was anticipated, but they did not have it all their own way. Brook who has been awarded a junior professional contract this week is now the proud possessor of a Yorkshire squad number but today he managed only 37 (a low score for him). Yorkshire were then 71-3 and soon 85-4 so Alliance were still in the game. However skipper Jordan Thompson has also been in splendid batting form of late and clinched the game with another valuable innings of 33 which included five fours. Young Thomas Brown did have an impact on the game dismissing Imtiaz and finishing with respectable figures of 5-0-25-1.

The Academy went joint top of the league with York as Harrogate's game with Hull controversially started late and then was abandoned due to further rain with Hull 83-6