Captain Noah Kelly hit a fabulous unbeaten 110 not out as Yorkshire’s Academy got their County Cup one-day campaign off to a winning start over their Cricket Scotland counterparts at Weetwood on Sunday.
Yorkshire’s youngsters are enjoying quite the summer, having already qualified for September’s Finals Day of the county T20 competition, winning three of their five matches.
Josh Hoyle’s 3-26 from seven overs led a polished bowling display to bowl Scotland out for 216 inside 41 of their 50 overs on Sunday. Each of the six-man attack struck at least once.
In reply, Kelly’s 82-ball innings with 17 fours from number three was supported by opener Will Bennison’s 31 and Alex Cree’s 30 as the target was reeled in for the loss of only three wickets inside 29 overs.
The Academy are also currently playing an intra-squad friendly at Town Fields in Doncaster as they prepare for the start of the three-day competition, which begins for them against Hampshire at Basingstoke next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire’s D40 senior side are two wins away from being crowned National Quest champions in their first season following promotion to county cricket’s top division.
On Sunday, they beat Essex by 51 runs at Harlow Town, defending their 40-over total of 234-7.
Captain Matthew Bateman top-scored with 73 off 70 balls and claimed 3-18 from eight overs as Essex could only respond with 183-8. Yorkshire were so far ahead of the game that Bateman was able to employ nine bowlers, of which five claimed wickets.
Yorkshire are now second in the table with three wins from four games and 96 points. They are 10 behind leaders Middlesex with a game in hand and two to play. Thirty points are available for a victory.
Next up is an effective title decider against Middlesex at Higham CC on Sunday July 13 before they round off their campaign at Surrey a fortnight later on July 30.
The Northern Diamonds Academy have won two of three recent 50-over friendlies, with another rained off.
On June 18, Layla Tipton opened the batting with 82 as the Diamonds, chasing 276 against Central Sparks at the Edgbaston Community Ground, won by 43 runs on Duckworth Lewis Stern at 135-2 in the 20th over.
The following Sunday, Trudy Johnson led the way with an excellent 95 as the Diamonds posted 344 all out against the Western Storm at Thornbury in Bristol.
Erin Thomas also added 52 and Emily Whiting 70 down the order before Bethany Slater took the new ball and returned 4-34 from 10 overs in Storm’s 235 all out – a 109-run victory for the visitors.
Yesterday, only 25 overs were bowled at Overstone Park CC against the Sunrisers. The Diamonds were 149-5, with captain Harriet Robson top-scoring with 55.
Meanwhile, Woodlands and Richmondshire are carrying the national flag for Yorkshire in club cricket.
They face each other at Woodlands on Sunday in the last 16 of the ECB National Club Championship. Patrington were beaten by Stayley last Sunday in the last 16 of the Voneus Village Cup.
