Welcome return for county 2nd XI cricket

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Already into September but a welcome return of county 2nd XI cricket, which seems to have suffered more than most with early season matches all over the country being closed to spectators. We have heard several sad stories of long journeys being made only for people to be turned away at the gate for games where social distancing has always been a way of life.

However worth the long ride over the Pennines to Boughton Hall, Chester where Lancashire seconds were entertaining Yorkshire seconds on day two of a four day game. In the not too distant past this game would have been played at Todmorden cricket club, right on the county boundary and would have attracted a substantial following of spectators from both counties. Today with Lancashire's first eleven at home at Old Trafford the crowd, if you could call it that, was probably no more than twenty or thirty people all day.

Harry Allinson poised on 98 not out at Chester Boughton Hall.

Yorkshire had batted first on the previous day and made quite a good job of it with an overnight score of 324-7. Harry Allinson, the Academy batsman still only 17 I believe, who we remember doing well as a junior player at Harrogate cricket club, was poised on 98 not out, which might have given him something of a sleepless night. Not to worry as he soon passed the milestone of his first second eleven century and went on to make 126 before being bowled by left arm spinner Morley. He first came to our attention in May 2018 in making 100 not out in a double century opening partnership for Harrogate third eleven against Blubberhouses no less!

Allinson about to receive congratulations from Ben Cliff just before the scoreboard ticks over to the magic hundred.

He had been given good support by opening bowler Ben Cliff who stayed with him for an hour and a quarter, despite only making thirteen runs. A valuable partnership of 49. After a short rain break and an early lunch in the palatial marquee shared by players and spectators alike, Yorkshire batted on only briefly before declaring on 376-9. The other main run scorers yesterday were James Wharton with 55 and Matt Pillans with 40.

Harry Allinson returns to the pavilion.

Lancashire's opening batsman, Ben Walkden from the Newton le Willows club, started his innings as if intent on breaking all records for slow scoring. His first run came in the eleventh over when a single brought a derisory cheer from his team mates. Two snicks through the slips then brought him racing into double figures, but full marks to him for sticking with it as he stayed there for four and a half hours to make 80 runs, including nine fours and amazingly two sixes! 

Thanks to Walkden, together with Newton le Willows team mate wicket keeper Matthew Hurst, who made 68 and J.J. Fielding from Ormskirk, who made 66, Lancashire's first innings total of 331 was only 45 runs behind Yorkshire. We did not return on day three, but Yorkshire's best bowlers were Dominic Leech with 3-57 followed by long spells from the spinners Jack Shutt (3-62) and Harry Sullivan (2-59). Sadly Yorkshire collapsed in their second innings being all out for 105, having no answer to the four pronged attack of Hurt, Blatherwick, Hartley and Morley.

That left Lancashire with the relatively easy task of scoring 151 to win on day four which they achieved by early afternoon, despite two late wickets from Ben Cliff, to win by five wickets. Yet again young Matthew Hurst was prominent with the bat making an excellent 71 not out, including nine fours. Some very promising young talent on display from both teams, but Lancashire well deserved their victory mainly due to their second innings bowling performance.