Harry Duke reflected on a bittersweet opening day against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, admitting: “It was an incredible feeling walking off with 50 to my name in a Roses match.”
Yorkshire’s 19-year-old wicketkeeper came to the crease at 21-5 before lunch in only his second first-team appearance and helped fashion a score of 159 before the Red Rose closed on 95-1 in reply.
Duke’s start to life as a first-team cricketer has been encouraging, performing well with the gloves at Glamorgan the week before last on debut and here after tea.
With the bat, he responded well today to his golden duck in Cardiff.
Unfortunately, team wise, things haven’t gone to plan so far in Manchester.
“I would have probably wanted a few more for the side, but I’ll take it for my first knock against Lancashire,” said the Wakefield gloveman, who shared 77 for the eighth wicket with Steve Patterson to recover from 40-7.
“I knew it was going to be tough against a very good attack, but I managed to get through my first ball today.
“As I was going out, Lythy tapped me on the back and said, ‘You just got to take your time this time. Don’t rush’.
“I felt I stuck to my processes well today. The nerves were still there, but it wasn’t my first knock. So I knew what to expect a bit more.
“I knew I didn’t really have much to lose when I went out there. That was quite a nice mindset to be in.
“It was good to bat with Patto because he hits balls in different areas, which takes the pressure off me. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
On the team performance, the ex-England Under 19’s man added: “The lads aren’t happy with what’s happened. But we spoke about it being a good effort to get up to 159.
“Ben Coad played brilliantly and so did Steve Patterson. And then we said, ‘Just forget the scoreboard and bowl how we know we can’.”
“With the forecast how it is and the attack we’ve got, I don’t see any reason why we can’t get a couple of early wickets tomorrow. Then you never know from there.”
