Batsmen in charge at Weetwood.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

The Under 18s championship is yet another strange competition operated by the E.C.B., who have already decimated the three day games of the former Minor Counties and the Universities. The three main groups, comprising the first class counties, are regionalised, but unlike the former Under 17s competition I am reliably informed that there are no end of season play-offs between the four top teams. The northern group of six have produced some very high scoring games, including several double centurions already. Several of the three day games have already ended in draws, as was the case with this week's game at Weetwood, Leeds between Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

It is hard to escape the fact that the game seems to be developing plenty of batsmen of quality but it would appear that bowlers of the same standard are hard to find. Admittedly this season has produced sun baked pitches which favour the batsman, but there does seem something lacking in the bowling department. Yorkshire, fresh from their victory over Durham in their last match, faced a Derbyshire side also in winning mood, having recently beaten Leicestershire by an innings at Marehay. The visitors however were without their century making captain Archie Harrison, who has been promoted to the first team squad.

Noah Kelly's long innings gets underway at Weetwood.

 On Monday Yorkshire won the toss and batted, but were soon in difficulties at eight for two. The rescue job was then in the hands of Driffield left hander Noah Kelly and a young man making his debut at this level in Will Bennison. We had heard good reports from fellow blogger John Winn some time ago about young Mr Bennison, who started with Ouseburn cricket club in the Nidderdale League. We saw him last season at Yorkshire under 15 level and were suitably impressed. This season he appears to have gone from strength to strength, having moved to Sheriff Hutton Bridge in the Yorkshire Premier League and scored a fifty in his first match. Since then he has scored a century for the winning North side in the recent Bunbury Festival at Loughborough.

Will Bennison gets off the mark for Yorkshire.

So we were not surprised when, after a few early scares, he scored another debut half century here, with a confident 58, which included eleven fours. Noah Kelly batted, as he does, at his own pace and was in sight of his own fifty when wickets suddenly tumbled at the other end. 121-2 became 143-5 as Bennison, Light and Redshaw all quickly returned to the pavilion. Enter Jack Luxton, younger brother of batsman Will currently with the Yorkshire first team. He made a resolute 40, including eight fours, in a partnership of 76 with Kelly.

Luxton departed with the score on 219-6, when Kelly was on 91, and Yorkshire were still under pressure, but Clarke Doughney turned the tide for the home side with an innings of 56, adding a further 113 which took Yorkshire well beyond the 300 mark. They were thinking of declaring on Monday evening but the light was so bad they thought Derbyshire would not be asked to bat. So they continued on Tuesday morning and George Booth helped Kelly to pass the 200 mark before Yorkshire finally declared on 450-7.

One happy man. Noah Kelly celebrates his double century.

Kelly's acknowledgement to his proud Dad.

Kelly's marathon effort, scoring 222 not out from 273 balls, included thirty fours and just one six, was a study in concentration, playing out several maiden overs and never losing patience, and very rarely hitting the ball in the air. Hopefully he will have a bright future ahead of him.

Noah Kelly returns to the pavilion - 222 not out.

So Yorkshire set off in search of an innings victory and when Derbyshire wee soon 36-3 hopes were high, but the middle order batsmen proved more resolute. Led by captain Callum Hawkins' excellent century, well supported by Shaikh's 58 and Veitch's 34, they reached 249-5. One memorable dismissal came when Lachlan Doidge's second ball pitched about half way down the pitch, did not bounce, and clean bowled the unfortunate Shaikh. Not sure who was more embarrassed, the batsman or the bowler!

Derbyshire captain Callum Hawkins celebrates his century.

After that the tail subsided to the pace bowling of Luxton and McMurran and they were all out for 287. Derbyshire were required to follow on and the unfortunate opener Vedant Somal soon went for a pair, leaving the visitors 9-1 at the end of day two. On day three Derbyshire batted with great resolution against Yorkshire's varied attack of four seamers and four spinners, none of whom could make an early breakthrough. Only skipper Vagadia, later in the day, posed a threat with 3-17 from thirteen overs.

Shaikh, with a second 50 of the game, and Veitch batting with freedom at the end of the day with 72 not out, took Derbyshire to a lead of over 100 and with five wickets still remaining, the players shook hands at 5 o'clock on a drawn game. There were one or two unfortunate incidents during the game and clear cases of dissent from at least two Derbyshire batsmen. The umpires did not help matters, continually slowing down the game with endless stoppages, one effort to change the ball seemingly going on for ever. Both teams were deducted a penalty point, presumably for the abysmally slow over rate.