After a deluge of heavy rain on Tuesday 8th August, when no cricket was possible anywhere in Yorkshire the county's Under 17 side were able to get off to a prompt start on Wednesday in what had become effectively a two day game instead of the scheduled three days against Cheshire Under 17s at the University ground at Weetwood in Leeds. It turned out to be a fascinating contest with twists and turns a plenty and the good crowd supporting both sides in need of a degree in higher mathematics to keep abreast of developments.
In the qualifying round of matches, of which this was the last, Cheshire were just four points behind Yorkshire. If Cheshire could get five more points from this game than Yorkshire they would go through to next week's northern semi final. If Yorkshire got enough points to maintain their lead they would go through. With the loss of a full day it seemed most unlikely that either side could bowl the other out twice to obtain points for a complete win, so it became a matter of batting and bowling bonus points.
Try and keep up if you can!
A cold, blustery wind greeted the players on Wednesday morning, in other words a typical Weetwood day. However full marks to groundsman Richard Robinson and his team in getting the ground ready for play after the deluge of yesterday. Cheshire won the toss and batted and goodness me how they batted. O'Brien dominated the early stages with 48 from a stand of 74 with opening partner George Balderson before he was sent back after calling for a run and was out by yards.
Balderson, from the Hyde club, made up for things by batting through the innings for a magnificent 118 not out, which included eighteen fours. He lost number three Dobson, bowled by Alec Drury for 12, but then shared an unbroken partnership of 207 with Sam Perry, from Alderley Edge, who also completed his century before Cheshire declared on 301-2. The visitors claiming four batting bonus points whereas Yorkshire did not get a single bowling point. So both teams were now level on points and all still to play for.
Yorkshire made a slow and steady start during the evening session of day one and were 87-1 overnight. The batsman out was James Wharton but Matthew Revis and George Hill batted through to the close of play. On the last day, in perfect sunny conditions, this was where the mathematics came into play. If Yorkshire got to 150 and only lost one further wicket in the process they would be one point ahead. This was exactly what happened but as soon as they had done so Cheshire took the third wicket and it was back to all square again.
George Hill was out for a hard earned 48 when he was stumped as soon as leg spinner Dickinson appeared into the attack. He looked a very useful bowler and also dismissed the obdurate Revis who had played a marathon Boycott-like innings of 67 from 67 overs! One of the youngest members of the side he showed great powers of concentration until caught at slip. So 151-3 and everything still in the balance.
By this time Alec Drury, whose bowling was very untidy on the previous day, had established himself at the crease and went on to make a very mature 56 not out in two hours. When captain Snookes was dismissed for 12 the total was 205-4 and Yorkshire promptly declared, having nosed in front again with another batting point. If they had lost another wicket Cheshire would have been back level again.
The ball was back in the visitors court. If the game now ended in a draw each team would get five further points and Yorkshire would qualify by one bonus point. Cheshire had to gamble and try and go for an outright win by bowling Yorkshire out cheaply. Gamble they did coming out with all guns blazing in their second innings which only lasted for eight overs. The hit out at everything, losing wickets in the process, and declared on 69-6 leaving Yorkshire requiring 166 to win at around four runs per over.
Of course Yorkshire did not need to win and when they faded to 108-6 it very much looked as if they might lose. Cheshire relied on their varied spin attack and rushed through their overs. At 5 p.m. the umpires started the last hour with seventeen overs still to be bowled. They managed to bowl 20 overs in that time and only at the very end did they slow things down and bring back the pacemen as Yorkshire at the end were only fifteen runs short of victory.
The two players who batted through this difficult final period were Chris Wood, another youngster and current under 15s captain, who made an impressive 30 not out and wicket keeper Litvin, who has first team experience with Harrogate, making 15 not out. So the game ended in a draw with handshakes all round. A tremendous performance by Cheshire who looked the better side throughout and played with a very positive attitude, only to lose out on a semi-final place by the narrowest of margins.
The semi-final is likely to be played at Weetwood next week, Tuesday15th August for three days and Yorkshire's opponents are likely to be Northamptonshire who won the Midlands area group.
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