Double header at Scarborough

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Luxton and Pillans rescue Yorkshire.

John Winn has already reported on Yorkshire's rain curtailed match with Northants at Scarborough on Wednesday but I can probably add a little background to Will Luxton's memorable debut innings. We first came across him two years ago when he scored an admirable century for Yorkshire Under 17s against Durham at Sheriff Hutton Bridge in front of very few spectators. One of those was his proud father who was able to tell us that his son, a Bradford Grammar School boy, played for Steeton cricket club in the Airedale and Wharfedale league. He did play a few games for the Yorkshire Academy that season, but with little success. The Academy did not play during the 2020 season, but this season he has been captain of the side and well amongst the runs.

The shot that took Luxton to his 50 at Scarborough.

We have seen him make several scores of over fifty, but his most memorable innings was against Sheriff Hutton Bridge in early June when he and Matt Weston both scored centuries in a partnership of 207. His innings on Wednesday came at a time when Yorkshire were in trouble after the loss of early wickets and he got his head down to play himself in before unleashing two memorable straight sixes to accelerate the scoring rate towards the end of the innings. The ovation from the crowd after his dismissal was outstanding and made this yet another 'I was there' moment.

Luxton celebrates his fifty.

Unfortunately the rain prevented Northants from chasing the Yorkshire total of 222 which might have been an interesting contest on what had been a green looking wicket. However no such problems the following day when Durham hosted another Royal London Cup game with Gloucestershire. A great occasion for lots of Durham supporters to have a day at the seaside and two coachloads from Chester le Street were already unloading at 10 o'clock in the morning outside the ground.

Graham Clark, who has been in outstanding form in this competition, together with Alex Lees, repeated their recent big partnership against Kent at Beckenham, this time putting on 230 for the first wicket before Clark, always the dominant partner, was out for 140. Lees went for 85 and Durham put together what looked like a winning score of 336-4. The Australian Dan Worrall took all four wickets for Gloucester, who included two former Yorkshire players in Josh Shaw and Jared Warner.

The Gloucestershire reply was led by young left hander Ben Charlesworth, who lost his opening partner skipper Chris Dent on 46, but played the sheet anchor role first in partnership with Tom Lace and then a stand of 118 with recent England performer James Bracey. This pair seemed to have turned the game Gloucester's way but when Borthwick's leg spin dismissed them both Durham were back in it. Charlesworth, yet another youngster to take advantage of the current situation, made a fine 87 and both he and Bracey, who made 90, were unlucky not to reach a century.

Ben Charlesworth of Gloucestershire.

The other spinner, Trevaskis, also took two wickets, but the return to action of recent import Van Meekeren with an untidy over, turned the tide back Gloucester's way. Scott hit a couple of sixes before skying the ball to the keeper Bancroft, but then that very experienced, if under rated, cricketer Jack Taylor took control of the situation. The daunting target of sixteen runs from the last over did not phase him one little bit and after hitting the first ball along the ground to long on, he calmly refused the single to keep the strike.

What an outstanding decision that was, as he promptly hit Chris Rushworth for six, four and six again off the next three balls to win the match with two balls to spare. What an amazing finish and even the Durham faithful had to applaud Taylor's remarkable effort. Full marks to Gloucester who have already shown us their ability to chase down targets in championship games on the live streaming.

Jack Taylor of Gloucestershire.

So one and a half days of remarkable cricket at Scarborough with more to come when Somerset visit for four days of a championship game on 5th September followed by Worcestershire seconds for another four days starting on 13th September.