Hard task for new look Yorkshire Academy

Posted by Tony Hutton

Yesterday saw the first round of fixtures in the Yorkshire Premier League North, which had been put back a week due to the bad weather. A new generation of Yorkshire Academy players took to the field against champions York in what proved to be something of a baptism of fire. Several of last season's regulars have moved back to league clubs and of course Harry Brook is now a first team regular. A few of last year's squad remain, but at least six were newcomers to this standard of cricket.

York of course have a very experienced side, led by Cheshire left arm spinner Dan Woods and with a powerful batting line up to which Yorkshire player Johnny Tattersall has been added, together with Oliver Batchelor from Leeds/Bradford University. After overnight rain the outfield was very soggy at one end and the umpires decided to postpone the start by an hour to 1 p.m. The conditions were unpleasantly cold for both players and spectators, but at least the wind from the north east was behind the pavilion and enabled those sheltering under the balcony to have some protection.

The Academy batted first and made a good start with the Huddersfield pair of James Wharton and Ben Birkhead putting on fifty for the first wicket. The introduction of Woods to the attack saw Wharton caught for 19 and Birkhead followed soon afterwards to an unfortunate lbw decision again in favour of Woods for 29. Bilal Anjum, who had been trying his best to keep warm throughout this opening stand, seemed to be caught cold by Woods off the bowling of Charlie Elliot for just 3.
Anjum, who bowled so well at Scarborough for the seconds last week, was able to tell us that he has left Sheffield United to join Doncaster this season and will be playing for them against Harrogate in the National Club Knockout on Sunday.

So 50-0 had become 53-3 very quickly but the tall figure of Tom Loten, from Pocklington School and George Hill from Sedbergh School got things back on track very well. Hill outscored Loten and reached 50 fairly rapidly against the varied York attack. Loten also reached his half century during a partnership of 109 for the fourth wicket. Hill was the first to go for 60 when looking for a big hit he miscued to youngster Finlay Bean who took a good catch at long on off action man Tattersall.
Last week he was keeping wicket for Yorkshire and now bowling spin for York.

From a score of 162-3 the Academy innings disintegrated somewhat in the chase for quick runs towards the end of the innings. Matthew Revis, a prodigious scorer of runs at Ilkley Grammar School, was bowled by Woods. Barnes and Taylor both caught going for big hits and then in a frantic final over both Dominic Leech (Normanby Hall) and Harry Harding (Stokesley) were needlessly run out to hand York two further points for a complete win by being all out for 198.

With the threat of more rain ever present, York's talented opening pair of Tattersall and Snell made a rapid start to their innings. The two senior bowlers Barnes and Taylor made no impression early on and in all the Academy used seven bowlers who all found it hard work against the prolific York pair.
It was not until they had added 137 that Barnes returned to bowl Tattersall for a fine 68. Soon after this with Snell on 61 not out the umpires took the players off for bad light, which always seemed to be a likely end to the day after the delayed start. So it proved and York were declared winners by nine wickets under the Duckworth Lewis method.

So a difficult introduction to the top flight for some of the Yorkshire youngsters but they all acquitted themselves well and will look forward to meeting another top side away at Harrogate next Saturday.