By John Virr – 2nd X1 Scorer
Winning the toss our visitors elected to bat first and on a slow morning session went to lunch at 105 without loss – Maisuria 36 not out from 68 deliveries and Fonseka 42 not out from 87.
Shortly after lunch Rizwan Ishfaq struck , bowling Fonseka for 48; 121-1. Maisuria and Singh added 53 in 111 deliveries before Brad Sylvester took 2 in the over, bowling Maisuria for 62 made from 126 balls with 7 fours and then having Vaughan-Hawkins caught at mid wicket by Owen Smith.
Singh had made 37 from 92 balls when he also was bowled by Louie Wilson and tea was reached when the same bowler had Tom Hartley caught at mid off by Peter Greenfield for 11. Tea 216-5.
Blatherwick joined Tribe and in 10 overs after tea added 92 before the latter was lbw to Smith having made 63 from 87 deliveries. In his next over Smith removed Blatherwick, caught at mid off by Sylvester but he had made 50 from 32 deliveries with a four and 6 sixes.
Sutton was lbw to Ishfaq for 1 and Davies caught at backward point by Wilson to give Ishfaq his 3rd wicket and Lancashire were all out for 352. Four overs remained and Yorkshire reached 8 without loss.
Day 2
The start of day 2 was delayed for 30 minutes due to early morning rain and unfortunately 3 wickets were lost within the first 6 overs of the day. Will Bennison was caught at deep square for 4, Owen Smith bowled for 1 and Fin Bean also bowled for 9 – Yorkshire 23-3. Joe Thompson and Peter Greenfield set about a rebuild but Thompson was lbw for 15; 47-4. Joe Hayes joined Greenfield and at lunch they were still together at 70-4: Hayes 11 not out and Greenfield 19 not out.
Post lunch the 2 youngsters continued their partnership showing patience, technique and an ability to pick the ball to play positively against. Hayes reached his half century first from 87 deliveries with 7 fours and a six but was bowled having reached 61 from 101 with a further 2 fours – the pair had added 103 in 212 deliveries.
Greenfield completed his half century from 133 deliveries with 5 fours but from 150-4 we collapsed to 180-8; Greenfield seized the moment taking 22 from an over by Blatherwick and reached a maiden hundred from 169 deliveries with 6 fours and 5 sixes – he finished unbeaten on 102 as we were dismissed for 212, trailing by 140.
Brad Sylvester had Maisuria caught behind for 3 (12-1) however Lancashire progressed to 48 before losing Singh, bowled by Will Bennison for 20. Vaughan-Hawkins and Fonseka added 54 from 72 deliveries before the former was caught at slip off Louie Wilson for 31 from 36 balls – Fonseka was unbeaten on 38 from 75 when bad light brought a close to play.
Lancashire will resume day 3 leading by 247 with 7 wickets in hand.
Day 3
Lancashire resumed leading by 247 with 7 wickets in hand. Tribe and Fonseka extended their partnership to 79 from 101 deliveries before the breakthrough came. George Lancaster had Fonseka caught behind By Fin Bean for 69 made from 122 balls with 8 fours.
Tribe was 8 short of his half century when he was adjudged lbw to Charlie Richardson who also bowled Blatherwick for 4: 201-6. Hartley was joined by Sutton and they added 54 in only 36 deliveries before Sutton was caught behind off Louie Wilson for 19. In his next over Wilson dismissed Barnard in the same manner but Hartley had “opened his shoulders” and when he was out on the stroke of lunch he had made 70 from 52 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes: this wicket brought a declaration at 299-9, a lead of 439.
Lunch was taken with 66 overs remaining in the day but as the Umpires walked out for the afternoon session rain came. Only 1 over was lost and Bean and Bennison opened our innings. Unfortunately, Bennison was bowled for 3 (4-1), Owen Smith (who had hurried back from 12th man duties at Headingley) was caught at 3rd man for 5 and Joe Thompson bowled for 9: 31-3.
A brief shower claimed another 2 overs as Yorkshire reached 44-3. Greenfield and Bean resumed and advanced the score to 65 before the former was caught at slip. Shortly after Bean was adjudged lbw for 37; 74-5.
Tea was reached with Yorkshire 117-7, Louie Wilson 16 not out and Brad Sylvester 12 not out. Jay Singh and Joe Hayes being the other dismissed batters. After tea Sylvester made 28 from 20 deliveries before becoming Tom Hartleys 7th victim and it was the same bowler who wrapped up a comprehensive victory by bowling Charlie Richardson for 9 – Yorkshire 155 all out and Hartley 8-50.
A disappointing end to a season that has seen more than 30 players used. To those of you who take the trouble to read these reports I thank you. I hope you all “Winter well” and fingers crossed we can do it all again in 2027.
