Centuries keep on coming

Posted by Tony Hutton

Last Saturday's Yorkshire League North game between Stamford Bridge and the Yorkshire Academy provided a century on each side in a high scoring encounter which proved to be a prelude to a few more centuries over the next few days.

Stamford Bridge have been fielding a very powerful line up this season and although without Will Rhodes, doing well for Warwickshire again, his brother Dominic produced the best bowling figures of 3-44 as the Academy, batting first, made a pretty good total of 251-6. Hero of the day was Tom Loten, who has batted consistently all season and recently made his first second team hundred for Yorkshire against Worcestershire at Harrogate.

This very tall young man from nearby Dunnington cricket club and Pocklington school dominated the innings and was never in trouble from start to finish, scoring 127 from only 133 balls, with eleven fours and two sixes. Together with George Hill he added 66 for the third wicket after the Academy had struggled on 16-2. He was then joined by Bilal Anjum in a partnership of 149 for the fourth wicket before Anjum was out for a useful 53. Final score 251-6.

Tom Loten on his way to a century.

The powerful little and large opening partnership of Pradeeptha Gunaratne and Ryan Gibson got the home side off to the best of starts with an opening stand of 61 in which the Sri Lankan was the dominant partner with a fine innings of 46. After a quiet start the powerful Gibson soon got into his stride, being particularly severe on the spin brothers Sullivan, who for once were not among the wickets. Gibson's 110 came off 106 ball, with thirteen fours and two sixes.

Little and large (Gunaratne and Gibson) meet in mid wicket.

Helped by the ever dependable Ryan McKendry with a quickfire 69, Gibson was finally caught Harry Sullivan bowled Josh Sullivan on a day when all the Academy bowlers had a difficult time against such a formidable batting line up. Matt Taylor had the best figures of 2-54 as the Bridge won by six wickets with five overs to spare.

The following day, en route for Scarborough, we decided to forego the pleasures of North Marine Road, on day one of the Championship match, for the rural delights of Malton and Old Malton cricket club. Here the all conquering Yorkshire over 50s side were entertaining Cornwall in the quarter final of this national competition. This game had been postponed from the previous Sunday to avoid the risk of bad weather.

Rural surroundings at Malton.

The powerful Yorkshire batting line up was led by opener Kevin Bradley from Clifton Alliance, who we had seen make runs earlier in the season against Durham at Darlington. This time he did make it to a splendid century with twelve fours and a six on this large playing area. He was well supported by fellow opener Graham Wolfenden from Otley and although league cricket legend Babar Butt failed for once Stephen Foster and John Goldthorpe kept things going well to the end of the 45 over innings.

A close shave for Kevin Bradley.

Foster, such a fine all rounder for so many years, made an impressive 62 not out together with Goldthorpe who finished on 30 not out in what proved a match winning total of 263-3. The Cornwall side, who tried hard throughout the game, must have wondered if their long journey was really necessary as they were bowled out for 157 in the forty first over. Sadly their batsman/wicket keeper Andrew Jones could not match his performance in the previous round against Oxfordshire when he made 120 in only 92 balls with seven sixes.

The Malton pavilion.

The semi finals of this competition will be played this Sunday 26th August when Yorkshire entertain Essex at Streethouse cricket club and Lancashire play Gloucestershire at Stretford cricket club, Manchester. So it could be a Roses final next month.

Plenty of other cricket on Sunday with the Rudgate Cup Final (Yorkshire Leagues) between Barnsley and Woodhouse Grange at Treeton cricket club (after Yorkshire Academy were disqualified for playing an ineligible player). The Bradford League's Priestley Cup Final will also take place between Farsley and Woodlands at Undercliffe. I also believe the Black Sheep Champions Trophy semi finals are being played between Hoylandswaine and Hanging Heaton and Wakefield Thornes and Pudsey St Lawrence.