Picture by John Clifton/SWPix.com. George Hill congratulates his all-round colleague Matthew Revis after reaching his century.
George Hill has hailed the form of Matthew Revis, saying the way his fellow all-rounder is batting at the minute is “an absolute joke”.
Hill and Revis are two of three in Yorkshire’s Sedbergh School set, Harry Brook being the other product of Cumbrian education.
Hill and Revis, thus, know each other well, and today they shared a superb 140-run partnership for the seventh wicket as part of the county’s 545-9 declared first innings.
Revis’s career best 152 not out marked his third century in as many Rothesay County Championship matches, with Hill contributing a fine season’s best 75.
“The way Rev’s playing at the minute is an absolute joke,” said Hill. “Everyone’s so chuffed for him.
“It’s unbelievable.
“We all knew he was talented, but with the confidence he has in his own ability, he looks so solid out there. Three hundreds in a row, it’s great to see.”
With 44 overs remaining in the day, Yorkshire gained a lead of 323 and then reduced Sussex to 20-3, including wickets for Jack White, Matt Milnes and an Imam-Ul-Haq direct hit run out.
Unfortunately, Sussex’s fourth-wicket pair Daniel Hughes and Danial Ibrahim shared an unbroken 95 through to close from just before tea, taking their side to 115-3.
Still, though, Yorkshire are in high spirits, knowing that a third win of the season is well within their grasp.
“Those three early wickets were massive. Imam’s (Ul-Haq) run out really started it off,” said Hill.
“Credit to their two, they batted really nicely.
“I thought we bowled well and beat the bat quite a lot. There was a good amount of theatre out there. It was a good, entertaining last session of cricket.
“There’s some pizzas out there for Dom Bess to aim at, which is good. It’s spinning out of those, which is a good sign. It’s only going to get worse for facing spin, which is an exciting prospect.
“We have a new ball in 30 or 40 overs, and it’s still nipping around now. If we hit a length hard and consistently, there’s enough there for us. We’re very confident for tomorrow.”
Hill’s score ended a frustrating run of form with the bat. As well as he has bowled – he’s been sensational for 39 wickets – it hasn’t quite happened for him with the bat.
But he looked good for a third fifty of the season, this one upon his return from injury.
He added: “The last month has been a bit strange for me. I’ve not played a huge amount because of my heel. It’s been a case of staying away from cricket a bit, switching off, and it seemed to work.
“With my batting today, I just went out there and didn’t really think of anything. I just tried to watch the ball as hard as I could. Luckily, it came off.
“It was good fun.”
And Hill knows all too well what one score can do for a season. Revis is proof of that, with his 93 not out in the draw against Nottinghamshire at the end of June sparking a glut of red-ball runs.
Fingers crossed, that’s the same for Hill.
First things first, though, and a win tomorrow.
