Picture by Dave Williams. Will Luxton slog-sweeps Manav Suthar for six to reach his century this afternoon as Warwickshire wicketkeeper Alex Davies looks on.
When you reflect upon Will Luxton’s career so far, it was no surprise that his magnificent maiden century in first-class cricket should come at Scarborough during a highly-impressive Yorkshire day one batting display against Warwickshire today.
Luxton, 23, made both his first-team and Rothesay County Championship debuts for the county on this ground. The former came against Northamptonshire here in a rainy 2021 One-Day Cup match which finished in a No Result – he scored 68 that day – and the latter in a Championship defeat against Surrey the following summer when he posted scores of 31 and 14.
This is his 13th Championship appearance for Yorkshire and his fifth on this ground. He has played more red-ball cricket in the county’s first team here than he has at Headingley, and he impressed greatly here with 167 off 261 balls out of 386-6 from 96 overs.
Sam Whiteman also contributed a confident 55 on his return from injury, while Warwickshire captain Ed Barnard, who had inserted the hosts, struck twice with seam. Attacking captain Jonny Bairstow will begin day two unbeaten on 49.
While a good portion of Luxton’s first-team exposure has been at this North Marine Road venue, he has played a significant amount of second-team cricket here as well. Two of his second centuries at that level have come here, and his previous Championship best of 71 was here last year in the draw against Surrey. He batted at four on that occasion.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Sam Whiteman provided expert support for Will Luxton at North Marine Road.
Luxton was strong through the off-side both off the front and back foot en-route to his fifty off 78 balls and his century off 182, the latter achieved with a slog-swept six over mid-wicket just before tea against Indian Test left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.
Warwickshire struggled to find their radar on a consistent basis, and Luxton, in particular, made them pay.
He shared 102 for the first wicket with Adam Lyth, whose 29 was cut short when adjudged caught behind tentatively pushing forwards at Barnard. There was a definite air of pad rather than bat in the dismissal.
Yorkshire reached lunch on 118-1 from 31 overs and continued on.
Luxton and Whiteman both hit back-to-back boundaries off new-ball seamer Ethan Bamber during the first half of the afternoon.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Will Luxton celebrates reaching his maiden first-class century just before tea.
Whiteman was strong on both sides of the wicket in a busy innings which saw him reach a fifty in 69 balls, by which time the hosts were 189-1 after 48 overs.
Unfortunately, he fell stumped down leg as he advanced down the pitch at Suthar, on debut for Warwickshire. That left the score 192-2 in the 51st over, broke a 90-run partnership and preceded an immediate rain delay.
The players were only off the field for six minutes.
James Wharton was brilliantly caught behind – one-handed diving low to his right – by Alex Davies off Barnard not long afterwards, the score now on 209.
Luxton had reached 50 at a good pace but slowed down through to his century.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Scarborough CC looking resplendent in the East Coast sunshine today.
It was, therefore, ironic that he would get there in such aggressive fashion. But what a way to do it!
Luxton now has two first-team centuries under his belt. His first was an unbeaten 105 scored against Warwickshire in a Metro Bank One-Day Cup win at Rugby School in August 2024.
From late afternoon onwards, Luxton and Matthew Revis advanced Yorkshire’s cause.
They cruised along in calm yet confident fashion.
And, despite losing Revis bowled by Bamber with the new ball – 303-4 in the 82nd over, the aim must now be to only bat once in this match.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Players and officials stand to remember former Warwickshire wicketkeeper Keith Piper, who passed away earlier this week.
Just after captain Jonny Bairstow had hoisted Bamber for six over long-0n inside the day’s final hour, Luxton reached his 150 off 281 balls.
He also hoisted a six over long-on, off Suthar – his second of the day.
Unfortunately, having shared 74 with Bairstow in quick time, Luxton was trapped lbw sweeping at Suthar before, in the next over, Oliver Hannon-Dalby had nightwatchman Ben Cliff caught at first slip – 382-6.
But it was only a minor blemish on a fabulous day’s work.
