Sheffield University CC are through to the Regional Final of the ECB’s Indoor 6-a-side competition, to be played next month.
Sheffield Uni beat Woodlands in the Yorkshire Final at Headingley on January 31 and will head to Derbyshire CCC’s Indoor School on March 20.
Sheffield batted first in the 12-over contest at Headingley, posting 75-4. Opener Dan Cooke top-scored with 38 not out.
In reply, Woodlands made a bright start thanks to Greg Finn’s 20. But they struggled to maintain momentum and fell just short at 72 all out.
Will Fraine has posted two encouraging scores during his spell of first-class cricket in Zimbabwe.
The Yorkshire batter has played three four-day games for the Eagles so far.
He hit 45 and 88 opening the batting in an innings defeat against the Rocks at the start of the month.
They are the two standout scores for the 25-year-old, who will this summer be hoping to marry excellent recent white ball performances with similar in the LV= Insurance County Championship.
Yorkshire are likely to have to employ a stand-in captain for the opening games of this summer’s Vitality Blast following David Willey’s Indian Premier League call-up.
Last weekend, the all-rounder was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the pre-tournament auction, in which Jonny Bairstow was signed by Punjab Kings.
The dates for the 2022 IPL have yet to be confirmed, but it has been suggested the final will take place on June 3.
If RCB qualify for that final, it means Willey would stand to miss the opening five North Group games.
Last season, when Willey missed games due to international commitments, both Adam Lyth and Joe Root captained the Vikings.
Willey and new Yorkshire coach Ottis Gibson are on course for T20 silverware in the Pakistan Super League with Multan Sultans.
The new county colleagues have helped the reigning champions to the top of the group stage table, winning seven of their eight games so far.
With two remaining, including one today, the Sultans have already qualified for the knockout stages, which culminates in the final on February 27.
Gibson is bowling coach with the Sultans, for whom Willey has taken seven wickets in four games so far. He has been struck down by sickness over the last week or so.
They are captained by star Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.
Harry Brook and Haris Rauf have helped Lahore Qalandars into second place in the table, but unfortunately Jordan Thompson’s Karachi Kings are already out of contention.
Former Yorkshire overseas fast bowler Mat Pillans has joined Harrogate as player/coach for 2022.
Pillans was released at Headingley at the end of last season, but the 30-year-old South African has remained in the county and will play YPL North cricket on a more regular basis.
Harrogate, who have also added the services of Ed Booth and Arjun Ramkumar, say: “Mat will head up our senior coaching team this summer, leading our training sessions on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings for all our senior sides.
“Mat will also help us to continue to develop our junior players, supporting them to fulfil their potential, as they progress through our senior teams.
“Many of you will remember that Mat played a small number of games for the club last year. During that time he proved to be a positive influence on the team.”
Pillans added: “I am excited to be taking up the role as player and coach at Harrogate.
“I have had the privilege of playing as a professional cricketer, and I have been blessed enough to work with and play alongside so many of the best players and coaches in the game. My time playing for the Yorkshire has made me realise how important cricket is in the county and the huge amount of talent that exists.”
The England women’s squad are out of quarantine in New Zealand ahead of next month’s one-day World Cup title defence.
Northern Diamonds stars Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver and Lauren Winfield-Hill are part of the squad which begins its campaign against favourites Australia on March 5 in Hamilton.
Beforehand, England have warm-up matches against Bangladesh (February 27) and South Africa (March 1) in Christchurch.
Having arrive direct from the Ashes series in Australia, the squad have had to undertake 10 days of quarantine.
