Yorkshire return to Scarborough.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Strange times indeed for cricket followers and none stranger than yesterday when originally a full programme of games between National Counties (formerly Minor Counties) and all the first class counties had been due to take place. Sadly, mainly due to covid related problems, more than half the games had been cancelled and the remainder switched to the first class county grounds. Such was the case at North Marine Road, Scarborough where Yorkshire made a welcome return to oppose Northumberland in a game originally scheduled for Jesmond in Newcastle.

These games were regarded as warm up fixtures for the Royal London Cup, the first class counties' 50 over competition which springs into action tomorrow. Partly due to the uncertainty of whether this competition would actually take place and the fact that it has been downgraded to a virtual second eleven contest, due to the absence of many players into something known as 'The Hundred', yesterday's game only attracted a somewhat sparse attendance.

Scarborough pavilion.

However those who did attend, on a perfect summer's day, were able to adequately socially distance themselves and to enjoy an excellent day's cricket thanks to the facilities laid on by the Scarborough club. The Northumberland side, the majority of which had links with Durham County cricket club, produced an excellent batting performance and the top three in the order certainly caused Yorkshire some early problems. Openers Alistair Appleby and Sol Bell put on 99 for the first wicket in fine style with the aggressive left hander Appleby leading the way with a hard hitting sixty before being caught behind.

Alistair Appleby hits one into the popular side.

Sol Bell will no doubt remember scoring a hundred on this ground for Durham seconds in a friendly game late in the 2019 season which earned him a call up for Durham's championship match with Glamorgan. which was badly effected by the weather. This proved to be his only first class appearance, as he was later released by Durham. However today brought back memories of the good times with a well composed fifty, including four fours and a six. 

Sol Bell tucks one away on the leg side.

Bell was out with the score on 130-2 caught by Waite off the new fifty over skipper, Dominic Bess. By this time the most experienced member of the Northumberland side, Michael Richardson, had played himself in and although wickets fell at the other end, he anchored the innings almost to the end with a determined top score of 65, which including only five fours. Richardson, the son of the former South African wicket keeper David Richardson, of course played for Durham from 2010 to 2019 as a batsman/wicket keeper. He was eventually out caught by Fraine on the boundary edge going for a big hit.

Northumberland had confounded most people, myself included, in posting an excellent total of 254-8 in their fifty overs. While Yorkshire's bowling was not really at it's best, Matt Pillans who worked up a good speed had the best figures of 3-23. There were some good catches, notably three behind the wicket by Harry Duke and a nice one from Will Luxton making his first senior appearance. The interval between innings gave us the chance to see the wonderful cliff top view of the castle and the north bay with the high tide lapping up to the promenade from a perfectly calm sea.

Unfortunately Northumberland's bowling was not quite up to the standard of the batting. Josh Coughlin, another former Durham man, opened the bowling with a tidy spell but the others had little to show for their efforts. Yorkshire, under the guidance of their new fifty over coach Richard Pyrah, tried another new idea by opening the batting with young Harry Duke. He made a slow start and looked as if is he would be overshadowed by partner Will Fraine, who went for the runs from the start. However Duke played sensibly and showed a full array of shots in an excellent fifty which included nine fours.

Duke was out when the pair had put on 144 for the first wicket and the game as a contest seemed almost already over. By this time Fraine was in full flow, always prepared to hit the bad ball, and sometimes the good ball, into the air. One of his sixes landed on the roof of the long bar on the popular side and the poor bowlers could not restrain his power hitting. When the game reached it's predictable conclusion, with ten overs to spare, Fraine had made a very impressive 146 not out, with fifteen fours and five sixes. Yorkshire winning by nine wickets.

Will Fraine celebrates his century.

Matthew Revis meanwhile had taken a back seat, picking up ones and twos here and there, but blossomed somewhat later on to hit five fours. He ended the innings with a very competent forty not out from forty balls and hopefully will be one of several younger players to take full advantage of the forthcoming Royal London trophy to enhance his reputation. Luxton, who did not have a chance to bat today, will be another, together with some of the younger bowlers, who will be out to show the Yorkshire hierarchy that they can follow the likes of Thompson, Hill and Duke to greater things.