Under 18s county cricket gets underway

 Posted by Tony Hutton

This week saw the start of three day under 18s cricket which is a regional competition initially, running alongside a 50 over cup competition which is already well underway. The Northern group consists of six teams - Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. All  of them were in action this week and Durham, with an outstanding victory over Lancashire, lead the way. Their positive attitude was an example to the Durham senior side, who yet again delayed a declaration after half a day was lost to rain, to ensure yet another high scoring draw with Middlesex.

Perhaps Durham's senior side might have declared when Michael Jones was out for a well made 206.

However, let us concentrate on the youngsters. Durham batted first at Southport and compiled a rapid 456-9 declared in only 88.3 overs. The outstanding innings of the day came from Ross Whitfield, a 17 year old from Sunderland cricket club, who made an amazing 270, which included 34 fours and 6 sixes. Durham, who had been well represented at the ECB Super 4s competition at Loughborough the previous week, then bowled Lancashire out for 242, with the wickets well shared amongst the nine bowlers used.

Ross Whitfield (Durham)

Durham did not enforce the follow on, but batted again to make a rapid 226-7 declared in only 34 overs. Top scorer this time was skipper Ben McKinney, from the Hetton Lyons club, with 83. This time Lancashire put up some resistance, particularly from the lower order with 40 from Corey Flintoff, son of a famous father, and 53 from Harry Birkman. Durham kept chipping away and finally took the last wicket late on the third day to dismiss the home side for 284 to achieve a notable victory by 156 runs. Again the wickets were shared with three each for Jack Scott and Callum Gaffney.

Meanwhile at Weetwood, Leeds - Yorkshire under 18s entertained Leicestershire. Here some time was lost to the weather, but Yorkshire appeared to have the upper hand when they had the visitors struggling at 117-6, after early wickets from Noah Priestley. However the seventh wicket pair of Sam Wood (87) and Fred Fallows (85) put on 162 before Priestley returned to dismiss them both. Leicester were eventually all out for 330, with Priestley taking an admirable 6-51. 

Yorkshire then slumped to 100-6, only Yash Vagadia (44) making a significant contribution in the top order, but fortunately Priestley was again the hero with an innings of 96 from only 89 balls. Yorkshire all out 255. Leicestershire's second innings started badly and they were reduced to 57-4 before a partnership between highly rated leg spinner Reheem Ahmed and skipper Vikai Kelley, formerly with Warwickshire, got them out of trouble.

Kelley and Ahmed run a short single.

Vikai Kelley on his way to a century at Weetwood.

Unfortunately the morning session of the last day was lost to rain and these two almost batted out the day, with obviously no thoughts of a declaration. Ahmed surprisingly ran out of patience on 88 when he was caught off a skier from left arm spinner Clarke Doughney. Kelley went on to complete a fine century and was 104 not out from a total of 251-5, when the players shook hands on a draw at five o'clock.

Kelley seems surprised by his achievement at the end of the game, accompanied by Sam Wood.

In the third match in this group Nottinghamshire entertained neighbours Derbyshire at Worksop College. Derbyshire 325-9 declared were matched by the home side's 310-7 declared and although Derby were dismissed cheaply for 157 in the second innings, the home side did not have enough time to force victory and the match was drawn with Notts on 78-5.

So Durham are currently top of the table with maximum 24 points, Nottinghamshire have 13, Derbyshire and Yorkshire 12 each, Leicestershire 10 and Lancashire 6. The next round of matches start on Tuesday next 2nd August and we hope to be present at Park Drive, Hartlepool for the game between Durham and Yorkshire. Derbyshire meet Lancashire at Belper and Leicestershire play Nottinghamshire at Uppingham School.

Finally in the quarter finals of the knock out cup Yorkshire under 18s will entertain Lancashire at Castleford cricket club on Sunday 7th August, 11 a.m.