Fantastic Finlay Bean has become the first triple centurion in Yorkshire’s second-team history, completing an unbeaten 365 against Nottinghamshire at Lady Bay today.
Bean, with 42 fours and two sixes in 456 balls, has also broken the national record for highest ever score in Second XI Championship cricket, previously held by Marcus Trescothick (322) for Somerset in 1997.
The 20-year-old product of York Cricket Club expertly toppled Richard Blakey’s previous Yorkshire seconds high score of 273 not out against Northamptonshire at Northampton in 1986.
?Opener Bean made history after tea on day three of the ongoing four-day Championship match at Nottingham’s Lady Bay Sports Club, reaching his triple hundred off 390 balls with 37 fours and one six.
Records tumbled at Lady Bay, with Yorkshire’s 676-4 also a club record score, beating the 602-8 made against Gloucestershire at Bristol last season.
The tall left-hander, Harrogate-born, underpinned the county’s imposing response to Notts’ first-innings 534, sharing an opening stand of 287 with James Wharton (126) and 240 for the fourth wicket with wicketkeeper Harry Duke (108).
Sandwiched in between those partnerships, he shared 112 for the third wicket with Will Luxton (30).
Yorkshire head into tomorrow’s final day leading by 142.
“Finlay’s batted brilliantly,” said second-team coach Tom Smith.
“He’s been on the field for every single ball of the match, and it’s not just his skill that’s been impressive, it’s been his concentration levels as well.
“Personally, I’ve never seen 365 runs scored in a game before! It’s been outstanding.”
Smith continued: “Second-team cricket is about creating opportunities, and someone like Finlay has taken his in this game.
“At second-team level, it’s not always about the results. They are not always the main drivers.
“If we go on to win this game, fantastic. If not, James Wharton got a hundred, Harry Duke, Finlay as well and Harry Sullivan got five wickets in their innings.
“Are we seeing progression, are they moving forwards as players so that if they get the call from Ottis Gibson, they’re ready to go and play in the first team?”
Off-side dominant Bean had reached his hundred in 135 balls during yesterday’s second day and his double in 276 today before square driving to reach his triple. At that stage, he had been batting for eight hours and 40 minutes.
His innings now spans 10 hours and 11 minutes.
He started day three on 151 not out, alongside fellow centurion Wharton, with Yorkshire 286-0. Their opening partnership ended on 287.
Bean’s situation bears some resemblance to that of Jonny Tattersall’s in that both have been given second chances at Yorkshire.
Bean came through the Yorkshire age-groups and played Academy and second-team cricket through to the end of 2020, also representing England’s under 19s.
He scored 213 batting at number three for Yorkshire’s Under 17s team in July 2018, with Duke, Wharton and Sullivan in the same team along with Matthew Revis and Dom Leech.
Despite being offered an Academy contract, Bean left Headingley at the end of that season.
But, following some impressive league performances for York over the last two seasons, he has earned another shot with the county through second-team cricket in 2022.
Bean is not on any contract with Yorkshire, but he also scored an aggressive 72 not out against Notts in a second-team T20 at Harrogate earlier this month.
“It’s important that there’s still an opportunity there for anyone like him,” added Smith.
“Look at someone like a Chris Rushworth up at Durham, who is their all-time leading wicket-taker now. But I think he left their pathway system at 18, went into the leagues and did well and came back in to help out. The rest is history, shall we say.
“Yes we want to produce Yorkshire cricketers through our Academy and pathways, but it is vital for everyone to know that, no matter what your situation is, the door is never closed.”
