Yorkshire under 17s began a three day semi-final in the northern group against Nottinghamshire at Caythorpe cricket club, a few miles east of Nottingham on Tuesday14th August and we were in position just in time for play starting on day two. Just as well as a wicket fell to the very first ball of the day. Yorkshire had been bowled out for 184 on day one and Notts had been 71-4 overnight. Harrison Quarmby, from Huddersfield had dismissed the Notts opener for a duck yesterday and got another victim, caught behind by Harry Duke from the day's first ball.
So Notts already 71-5 and it was important for Yorkshire to press home their advantage to gain a first innings lead, which could decide the game if bad weather intervened. They were held up by Joey Evison, who had already scored a century in this competition earlier in the season. Batting at number four he held the innings together until he was ninth man out for a well made 65.
Wickets had been falling regularly at the other end, with Josh Sullivan taking three, including that of Evison who was lbw, and George Hill with two. A good all round performance by Yorkshire's bowlers, plus some good work in the field, eventually bowled out Notts for 141, a comfortable lead of 43. This became even more comfortable for the travelling supporters, mainly families of the players, when Wharton and Revis put on an opening stand of 92 in the second innings.
The earlier sunshine turned to cloud in the afternoon and a stiff breeze blew across the ground all day, but Yorkshire looked to have things well under control until James Wharton, who had been the dominant partner was suprisingly caught and bowled by Ishraj Jandu for 59. This precipitated something of a middle order collapse as Finlay Bean went for a duck and Ramkumar made only three and Yorkshire were suddenly 98-3, with Notts buoyant and back in the game.
George Hill came in and stopped the rot in partnership with the very dour Matthew Revis, who played an extremely watchful innings and was quite content to just occupy the crease. Together these two put on a partnership of 67 and turned the game very much back in Yorkshire's direction. Hill was finally lbw to the very tidy young leg spinner Zain Ramzan, who proved hard to score off. He also had Duke lbw with his googly and Yorkshire were 183-5 with a lead of 226, which some onlookers thought might be enough.
The Yorkshire camp were perhaps not that convinced and Dominic Leech came in to play an excellent innings in support of Revis, who was finally out for 83 including 13 fours in well over three hours batting. This was a match winning innings, as an early dismissal could have led to a total collapse. As it was the lead was approaching 300 when he was out.
Yorkshire took no chances and batted on the following morning to reach a massive 377 all out, with 59 from Archie Greaves the stand out performance at number eight. Notts facing a huge target of over 400 to win, were never in the hunt and despite 38 from opener Sebastian Menzhausen and another good effort of 36 from Joey Evison, they were all out in quick time for just 130. The tailenders disappearing at a rapid rate due to some more fine bowling from leg spinner Josh Sullivan who had the excellent figures of 10.3- 3-15-5 and 8-36 in the match.
Yorkshire will now face Surrey, rather surprising winners over Somerset due to a first innings lead in a drawn match, in the three day final at Arundel Castle in Sussex starting on Tuesday 28th August.
What a shame this game could not be played in the Midlands, to enable a greater following for Yorkshire.
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