By John Virr, 2nd XI Scorer
On a warm, sunny morning our hosts won the toss and elected to field first. Fin Bean and skipper, Will Bennison, opened the innings and the former was caught at slip in the second over without scoring – YCCC 5-1.
Harry Duke joined Bennison and they remained unbeaten at lunch adding 125 in 170 balls.
Duke 31 no from 80 deliveries and Bennison 80 no from 94 deliveries including 15 fours, his half century came from 63 balls with 10 fours. At lunch Yorkshire 130-1 from 30 overs.
Shortly after lunch Duke reached his half century from 99 balls with 6 fours and a six, however he was dismissed lbw without adding to his score – Yorkshire 167-2. At this point Bennison had progressed to 96 from 114 balls and he duly reached his century from 118 balls with 18 fours. He and Owen Smith added 66 in 81 deliveries before Smith was also lbw for 27 from 44 balls with 4 fours.
Joe Thompson made 3 before being bowled and this brought Noah Kelly to the crease – Noah returning from a long term injury took some time to find his rhythm but he was unbeaten at tea with 5 from 33 balls. Bennison, meanwhile, had reached 150 from 182 balls with 23 fours and a six: at tea 261-4.
Bennison had reached 155 when a mistimed pull saw him caught at cover. Yash Vagadia made 20 from 10 balls before being caught off a leading edge and this brought Matthew Firbank in to join Kelly who was finding his rhythm and was 23 no from 60.
Kelly continued and reached his half century from86 balls with 5 fours and he finished the day unbeaten on 69 from 124 balls – Firbank, meanwhile, played with great style punishing anything short or off line and he reached a maiden 2nd X1 half century from 53 balls with 8 fours and, he at the close was 87 not out from 85 balls: together they had added 142 from 152 balls and at the close Yorkshire were 5 runs short of full batting points at 445-6.
Day 2
Resuming at 445-6 Matthew Firbank was dismissed to the first ball of the day caught behind. Jay Singh joined Noah Kelly and in 47 deliveries they advanced the total to 492-7 before declaring: Kelly 88 not out from 141 balls and Singh 27 not out from 30 balls.
In the 18 overs before lunch Worcestershire reached 91 without loss, Gunaratne 32 not out from 52 balls and Porter41 not out from 56 balls. The breakthrough came in the 5th over after lunch when Porter was bowled by Owen Smith for 46 made from 78 balls with 6 fours. Kashif Ali made 6 from 4 balls before being caught behind by Harry Duke off the bowling of Subhaan Ali; 116-2.
Shortly after Gunaratne reached his half century from 82 balls with 7 fours. He and Jones were unbeaten at tea with a total of 248-2 having added 132 from 170 balls. Jones was 59 not out from 92 balls and Gunaratne 118 not out from 156 balls.
After tea their partnership extended beyond 200 before Jones was caught behind the first ball after drinks – he made 84 from 142 balls with 10 fours – Worcestershire 334 -; Gunaratne unbeaten on 174 from 223 balls, he was joined by Essenhigh and the formers score had advanced to 184 when attempting a 2nd run he was run out by a combination of Joe Thompson and Duke.
Only 6 more balls were possible before Thunder brought and early close with our hosts on 363-4.
Day 3s forecast doesn’t look like much play will be possible but fingers are crossed.
Day 3
No play was possible due to rain.
Day 4
No play was possible due to rain with the match drawn.
