The cynics among the small handful of second eleven cricket watchers that were in attendance for this important cup final may have felt that events had conspired against the home side as Yorkshire faced Middlesex at Headingley. Firstly the all important first team had taken a squad of fourteen players to Taunton for Friday's Championship game with Somerset, thus depriving the second team of three regulars, Karl Carver, Matthew Fisher and Matthew Waite. Secondly because of Middlesex's three day game which ended yesterday, it was decided that this 50 overs a side contest should be played as a day night game commencing at 2.p.m. which meant it would go on to well after 9 p.m.
An added problem was the dreadful weather forecast which suggested heavy rain on and off throughout the day. Indeed the second day's play at Weetwood just up the road had already been abandoned before lunch due to yesterday's torrential rain.
The rain duly arrived at regular intervals and the game was twice shortened in terms of overs, first to 41 overs a side and then to 38 overs when Yorkshire had completed their innings. The fact that Friday, with a good forecast, was available as a reserve day did not seem to enter the calculations.
There were some plus points however, in that food and drink was available until a late hour, something that doesn't often happen during second eleven games at Headingley. Both scoreboards and even a public address was in operation - another surprise!
Middlesex fielded a strong looking side, with Nick Compton, former England batsman, as captain. He won the toss and asked Yorkshire to bat which might have been a good decision with bad weather likely and knowing how many runs to chase. However, the in form Harry Brook played yet another splendid innings to turn the game very much Yorkshire's way. The floodlights were on from the start, but really had little effect, even later on. Brook's fifty came up in only fifty balls and he went to his third century in a week in splendid style. He was well supported by Ryan Gibson, with an even quicker fifty and then another from skipper Will Rhodes.
These two players, who have been on the verge of the first team for some time now must be very concerned first with the arrival of Australian Peter Handscomb and now by today's announcement that Ben Kohler-Cadmore is arriving from Worcestershire immediately, rather than at the end of the season. So Rhodes and Gibson will be pushed even further down the pecking order. They both deserve better than this.
Yorkshire's innings finished on 265-5 after 38.4 overs when the rains came again and Middlesex were never really in the game when play eventually restarted. Despite a fifty from Compton they were eventually all out for 179 well after 9 p.m. Jack Shutt, the young off spinner finished off the tail very quickly with 4-12 and Yorkshire won the trophy with ease. Brook will no doubt get the headlines, but this was an excellent team performance, with all the bowlers and wicket keeper Read contributing.
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