Adam Lyth is having an excellent Hundred campaign with the Northern Superchargers, the Yorkshire opener in the top five leading run-scorers in the men’s event.
Lyth is opening the batting alongside former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, and he has posted scores of 51, 79 and 56 in six innings so far.
His 79 came against the Oval Invincibles, and his fifty came off 17 balls – the fastest half-century in the competition’s short history.
It was a record which last only three days, with London Spirit opener Adam Rossington clattering a fifty off only 15 balls in a win against the Superchargers at Headingley last Sunday.
*New signing for next season, the fast bowler Matt Milnes, has played two games so far for the Oval Invincibles, taking one wicket. And it was one he might be able to brag about once he gets his feet under the table at Headingley!
Nottingham-born Milnes has signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire, joining from Kent and having previously represented his home county.
The 28-year-old’s only wicket so far was actually Adam Lyth, ending that aforementioned record-breaking 79 when the Invincible beat the Superchargers at the Oval the week before last.
Milnes has been backed to shine for Yorkshire by Will Fraine, who played with him when the pair were both on the books at Trent Bridge before their respective moves to either end of the country.
“Milnesy is an excellent bowler, an excellent character – a great bloke, and I really rate him,” said Fraine.
“He’s also a great fielder, and he brings a lot of energy.
“He’s a very mature and clever cricketer. He will bring good skills with the ball and will be good with the bat as well for us. He’s not a mug with the bat – he’s stubborn to get out.
“The main thing about him is that he’s a competitor with that, ‘Fight until the end Yorkshire spirit’. That’s something that we pride ourselves on, isn’t it.
“He’s a very good addition, and I can’t wait to play with him again.”
Yorkshire yesterday announced the signing of Ben Mike, the Leicestershire all-rounder who also has a deal to play in the Hundred this season.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, also Nottingham-born like Matt Milnes, he is yet to play.
Mike is part of the Trent Rockets squad, so will no doubt be able to get plenty of inside info on what life is like at Headingley through Hundred colleagues Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Dawid Malan.
He may also have picked the brains of Joe Root before he joined up with England’s Test squad.
The Rockets are top of the table with five wins from six games, two points clear of Jordan Thompson’s London Spirit, who they beat at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Kohler-Cadmore hit an unbeaten 41 in a routine pursuit of 123.
Northern Diamonds and England star Nat Sciver had a 30th birthday to remember on Saturday, the all-rounder captaining the Trent Rockets and starring in their victory over London Spirit at Trent Bridge.
Sciver hit an unbeaten 42 as the hosts posted 142-4 before taking 2-20 from 15 balls in a polished defence (124-6) as the Rockets won a second game in four to stay in contention for a knockout place.
The Rockets, for whom Katherine Brunt and Emma Marlow are also representing – the latter is yet to play, face a key fixture against league leaders Southern Brave on Thursday afternoon (3.30pm) at the Ageas Bowl.
Lauren Winfield-Hill will hope to continue her fruitful Hundred campaign today when the Oval Invincibles host Birmingham Phoenix at the Kia Oval (3pm).
Northern Diamond Winfield-Hill has scored 104 runs in three innings, including a best of 74 not out, since her move south from the Superchargers.
Winfield-Hill was part of an amusing exchange on BBC Five Live’s commentary of the Superchargers v Manchester Originals men on Sunday evening when commentator Scott Read asked her how life in London was treating her.
“A little source tells me you have an electric scooter with you,” said Scott.
“I do, but who told you that? Was it Mady Villiers? She must be using it now.”
Well, that source may have been a touch closer to home.
Can you keep a secret? It may well have been us who tipped Scott off, following Lauren’s wife Courtney revealing that little tit-bit of info in her recent column for this website.
Not that we want to start a domestic or anything, but come on Lauren you really should be reading your wife’s missives!
No Ball!
Katie Levick is currently amongst the most miserly bowlers in the women’s Hundred following, the Northern Superchargers leg-spinner conceding on average only 6.4 runs per set of five balls.
Levick has taken three wickets in four games so far, but more impressive has been her economy rate as she builds pressure on the opposition.
The Diamonds’ star is in the top 10 for best economy rate in the competition and in the top five of those bowlers who have played four games so far.
The Superchargers are next in action on Friday afternoon when they play Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens as they bid for their third win in five games.
