Essex seconds venture north.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

As previously indicated Second eleven county cricket is always full of surprises. Having seen Kent seconds go even further north to face Durham at Richmond, it seemed a while since Essex seconds had been seen in Yorkshire. However, here they were at Weetwood Sports Ground, Leeds for a game with Yorkshire seconds that we were able to see most of for the whole four days. As happened when Yorkshire recently visited Durham, four players in the original line up were removed from the game from day two onwards to attend Yorkshire's T20 quarter final at the Oval on Wednesday. The replacements were two batsmen and two bowlers.

The four who went were all batsmen, so it seemed strange that they did not have chance of batting practice on day one, as Yorkshire won the toss and asked Essex to bat. Essex fielded a team of youngsters apart from the two opening bats, regular first teamer Nick Browne and South African Grant Roelofsen. The big news for Yorkshire was the re-appearance, after a long absence, of Gary Ballance. Good to see him back in action.

Gary Ballance, back in action for Yorkshire.

Yorkshire got off to a fine start with Tom Loten taking two quick wickets, first bowling Brown for five and then having skipper Rymell caught in the slips by Luxton first ball. Khushi survived the hat trick ball and he, in company with Roelofsen, put on 149 for the third wicket. The South African was eventually dismissed by Noah Priestley for 75 and Khushi was on the verge of a century when left arm spinner Clarke Doughney had him caught by Ballance for 95.

Weetwood regulars enjoy the sunshine.

Richards soon followed, bowled by Doughney, and at 207-5 Yorkshire must have thought they had broken the back of the Essex innings. Not so, as first Luc Benkenstein, 17 year old son of Dale Benkenstein, who after a notable career with Durham is now the Gloucestershire coach, ably assisted by a very capable number eight, began to turn things back Essex's way. Benkenstein went for thirty six but the number eight, with an almost unpronounceable name, Nikhil Gorantla, proved to be a boy wonder from Perse School, Cambridge. Now just turned nineteen, he first appeared for Cambridgeshire in the Minor Counties at the age of fifteen, scoring fifty runs on debut. He has played for Durham University this season.

Nikhil Gorantla (Essex)

After tea on day one, he really went to town, going to fifty in 56 balls and then to his century in 90 balls with fourteen fours and three sixes. From 133 not out overnight, he slowed down somewhat on day two, but still managed to put on 187 in partnership with wicketkeeper McKenna. He completed a magnificent double century just before lunch when Essex declared on 518-8. Apparently Gorantla made his debut century in last week's second eleven game with Hampshire, again in quick time, and certainly looks like one to watch for in the future.

Gorantla celebrates his double century.

and takes the applause on his return to the pavilion.

Yorkshire, without Wharton, Luxton, Fraine and Loten, who had disappeared without trace, must have felt they faced a mountain to climb. After the early loss of Allinson, (one of the replacements), Finlay Bean, after his marathon innings last week, and Gary Ballance began to pile up the runs with a partnership of 95. Bean was tempted by the first ball he faced from leg spinner Benkenstein, to be caught on the boundary edge for 74 and Ballance followed for a well made 61. Harry Duke, the first team wicketkeeper, who had taken over the captaincy seemed like Yorkshire's last hope. He was still there at the close on 284-5 with 64 not out.

Harry Duke, batting for Yorkshire.

After a fine, sunny day for much of day two, the fierce westerly wind returned for day three but Yorkshire's weakened batting side somehow not only avoided the follow on, but after Duke's dismissal for 88, the unlikely last pair of Jack Shutt and young seamer Charlie McMurran, from Methley, managed to put on a century partnership for the last wicket, taking Yorkshire to an all out score of  437, just 81 behind. Essex batted again and started well with a partnership of 88 for the first wicket, both Brown and Roelofsen making half centuries. By the end of day three Essex had extended their lead to 242 with an overnight score of 161-3.

Day four produced heatwave conditions with the handful of spectators trying hard to find the shade. Essex initially prospered with seventy from skipper Rymell, but with thoughts turning to a possible declaration before lunch, the tail rather disintegrated against the spin of Sullivan and Shutt. Essex were all out for 258 leaving Yorkshire a challenging target of 340 in 76 overs. With the absence of four leading batsman, of whom only one actually played at the Oval last night, it was perhaps a tall order.

Heatwave conditions at Weetwood.

 This certainly looked the case when both openers Finlay Bean and Harry Allison were dismissed by opening bowler Prideaux, with the total 18-2. However, enter Gary Ballance the former England batsman, who proceeded to give a master class to the many youngsters on both sides. Scoring most of his runs in boundaries he progressed steadily to a century in just 97 balls, hitting fifteen fours and three sixes - one of which took him to his century.

Gary Ballance hits the six which took him to his century.

When Ballance departed, with the score 167-3, there was still much work to be done. Acting skipper Harry Duke, after two centuries last week and 88 in the first innings, made another workmanlike half century. Noah Priestley soon followed and at 227-5 Essex were certainly back in the game. However the unlikely teenage pairing of Yash Vagadia and Harry Sullivan, not previously known for his batting,  then stayed together to win the match with just seven overs remaining, with an unbeaten partnership of 113.

Sullivan and Vagadia return to the pavilion.

Vagadia, now playing for Hartlepool on Saturdays, led the way with an innings of 87 not out which included ten fours and one six. Just before the end Harry Sullivan went to his maiden half century at this level, also having hit ten fours in his 50 not out. A wonderful victory for the young Yorkshire side, obviously with much to thank veteran Ballance for, but highly encouraging for the future.

The defeated Essex side played a full part in a great game of cricket.