Harry Duke is confident Yorkshire’s squad has what it takes to deliver the goods in the forthcoming Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
The Vikings wicketkeeper-batter will take the gloves in tomorrow’s Group B opener against Surrey at the Kia Oval (11am), the first of eight group fixtures.
Duke scored a century in Sunday’s friendly win over National County Shropshire at Wellington, a blistering 106 not out off 55 balls batting at number five. Captain Shan Masood sat that game out, but he will return to lead the side in South London.
This competition has been run alongside the Hundred for three years now – this will be the fourth – with more established players unavailable to their counties. All told, Yorkshire will be missing seven players, including their internationals, and Surrey a whopping 15.
The Vikings reached the quarter-finals in 2021, but they have missed out on knockout cricket in each of the last two years.
The top three in each of the two groups qualify, with top of each group advancing directly to the semi-finals. The teams finishing second and third play off for the right to advance.
Picture by YCCC. Harry Duke chats about his superb 106 not out in Sunday’s National Counties Showcase fixture against Shropshire at Wellington.
And that is where Duke is hopeful Yorkshire will be come mid to late August. The final of this competition is played at Trent Bridge on September 22.
“You look at the squad now, and there’s a lot of lads who have played a lot of first-team cricket,” he said.
“Look at Hilly, he’s probably played nearly 100 games for the club now. If not, he certainly won’t be far away. It’s the same with Rev. Beany’s obviously had an unbelievable start to his career in red ball cricket.
“You look at the lads who are going to be playing in it, we’ve got the same names who’ve been playing in it for four years now. I think we’re getting tighter as a group, understanding each others games and really understanding how 50-over cricket works at this level.
“I feel like we have a brilliant side. Now it’s about going out, relaxing and playing.
“I feel like the prep’s been good. We had a good second-team game against Durham last week, and they had a pretty star-studded line-up. Sunday as well.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Shan Masood will captain Yorkshire in the early stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
“Hopefully, come Thursday, we can put on a show and do the business. It’s always nice to play at the big venues, and we’re looking forward to going down there and getting stuck in.
“It’s just about taking it one game at a time, and if we’re consistent with that – turn up each day and do the right things – I don’t see why not.
“If we can get to that quarter-final spot, we’ll have given ourselves a chance to compete for that trophy.”
Duke, 22, has opened the batting in the previous three years, and with success having scored a couple of hundreds. He also hit a brilliant 93 not out in last year’s one-wicket win over Surrey at York. More of that later.
But the way he batted on Sunday indicated a versatility which could be utilised in the latter stages of an innings in the search for quick runs.
While it has not been confirmed, the likelihood is that Fin Bean and Will Luxton will open the batting.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Will Luxton could open the batting at the Kia Oval tomorrow.
“We’ve got a lot of experience in our dressing room, especially with Shan back,” Duke continued. “It’s about working in partnerships out there as a batting unit, and I don’t see any reason why we can’t put some big totals on in this competition.”
As aforementioned, Surrey are missing 15 players, including all of their internationals, because of the Hundred. Conor McKerr could play for them against Yorkshire having spent time on loan at Headingley recently in the Championship and Blast.
Like Yorkshire last year, Surrey also won two games but finished a couple of places lower in the table.
The Vikings beat Surrey by one wicket in a thriller at York last August when Duke’s 93 not out underpinned a successful pursuit of 242.
“It was a pretty good day out, that one,” added Duke. “It was one of the best days I’ve ever had on a cricket field.
“I didn’t get the hundred, but it probably surpassed the two hundreds I have got purely because of the way we won that game and doing it with one of my best mates at the other end, Leechy.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Harry Duke and Dom Leech celebrate last season’s One-Day Cup win over Surrey at York. Shan Masood is on hand to congratulate them after watching them share a crucial 10th-wicket partnership of 33.
“Hopefully we don’t get to that point on Thursday. But if we have to, I’m sure me and him will be there trying to do the business again.”
Yorkshire have not played a 50-over match at the Oval since late July 2015 when they lost a Royal London Cup clash by six runs chasing 265.
Andrew Gale captained a visiting side including the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Liam Plunkett, while Surrey included their current coach Gareth Batty alongside Kumar Sangakkara.
