Picture by Jed Leicester/MCC. Will Bennison punches off the back foot en-route to his half-century against Middlesex at Lord’s on Sunday.
England Under 19s star Will Bennison believes he is “building into it nicely” in terms of life in Yorkshire’s top order.
Bennison has been an ever-present at number three through the ongoing Metro Bank One-Day campaign, which has now reached crunch time.
Yorkshire have played six, won four and lost two and sit second in Group A. They are sandwiched in between group leaders Middlesex and third-placed Durham, All three teams sit on 16 points and hold the qualifying positions for knockout cricket. Middlesex and Durham have a game in hand and play each other at Chester-le-Street tomorrow.
That game runs at the same time as Yorkshire’s penultimate match of the group stage, against Derbyshire Falcons at Scarborough (11am start).
Before we get onto Bennison and his form and development, a quick recap of the format.
The top team in each of the two groups qualifies for a home semi-final (August 16). The second and third-placed teams then face off in a pair of effective quarter-finals (August 14) for the right to advance to the last four. The final is then at Trent Bridge on September 20.
It’s almost certain that Yorkshire will have to win their last two games, including against Essex at Chelmsford next Tuesday, to have any chance of finishing top for a home semi-final, something they achieved last year.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Will Bennison has posted scores of 36 and 63 in his last two Metro Bank One-Day Cup innings.
“I think we’ve played some really good cricket throughout,” said Bennison. “The nature of this competition means it’s pretty hard to win all eight group games with so much travelling, a lot going on.
“But we’ve got the team to win two from two. I have full confidence in the lads. We all do.
“Derbyshire are a good side, but I’m sure we will put in another good performance, like we have done on a few occasions already. Hopefully we’ll get another win.”
Bennison currently plays his league cricket at Sheriff Hutton Bridge and also learnt his trade at Ouseburn.
The 19-year-old has now played seven One-Day Cup games in all for Yorkshire having debuted in a victory over Kent at Canterbury last season, and he heads to Scarborough full of confidence.
Last weekend, he hit a composed 36 as the White Rose successfully chased 166 to beat Durham at York on Friday, navigating the threat posed by ex-England Test captain Ben Stokes. On Sunday, he bettered that with an excellent 63 in defeat against Middlesex at Lord’s.
It is a far cry from his first two first-team innings at Kent last August and against Hampshire at Scarborough last month, both of which yielded ducks. In the latter, he was run out backing up without facing a ball.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Dom Bess and his Yorkshire side will almost certainly have to win their last two games to have any chance of direct qualification through to the semi-finals.
“It was a tricky start,” he smiled. “But I feel like I’m building into it nicely.
“It’s great that I’ve got the backing to have a bit of a run at the top of the order, which is pretty special.
“I’ve enjoyed it, and hopefully it’s just the start and I can keep cracking on.”
On the Durham knock, Bennison reflected: “It was a good challenge facing Stokes and their other bowlers, who have a lot of quality. It was a shame not to be able to finish it off, though. But it was a really good win.”
Bennison had previous at Lord’s. In 2024, he captained St Peter’s School, York to national T20 success and scored 97 and took three wickets with his leg-spin that day.
On last Sunday’s innings, which saw him reach his fifty with a pulled six over mid-wicket, he said: “I really enjoyed it. Obviously frustrating not to get the win, because I felt like we played some good cricket.
“There were a lot of happy memories for me at Lord’s. My parents were there on Sunday, which was nice.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Harry Came has been captaining Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
“You look up at the scoreboard and see you’re on 44 and then next thing, ‘The ball’s there for it and I’m there’. It was lovely.”
Bennison added: “I feel in a good place with my game. Yes, it was frustrating to start the way and I did and you kind of wonder where you’re next run’s coming from.
“But you’ve got to trust the process and keep going, back yourself and know that you’re good enough to turn it around.
“It’s been’s great that I’ve had the backing of the coaches and the lads to go out there and show what I can do.
“Sometimes as a young lad you can get thrown into a position you’re not particularly comfortable with just because that’s where the opportunity is.
“But I’ve done a lot of batting at three, and it’s great to go out there in a position I really enjoy. I’m very grateful for that, and everyone’s been very accommodating.
“It’s a great environment to be a part of.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Will Luxton has scored two centuries in the ongoing Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
While Yorkshire are third on 16 points from six games, Derbyshire are fifth on eight but have only played five. They have won two and lost three.
Captained by opening batter Harry Came, they have plenty of experience in their ranks, including Wayne Madsen and another top-order batter in Australian overseas Caleb Jewell.
England Test Match off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has played once for the county in this competition.
On Sunday, they beat Sussex Sharks by 188 runs at Derby on the back of a 325-7 total. They bowled their visitors out for 137. Madsen top-scored with 104 before left-arm spinner Jack Morley returned 5-28.
YORKSHIRE v DERBYSHIRE, LIST A CRICKET 1969-2022 – STAT PACK
Results (home and away): Played 67; Yorkshire won 42, Derbyshire won 18, Tied 2, No Result 5. (Abandoned 5).
At Scarborough: Played 3; Yorkshire won 2, Derbyshire won 1. (Abandoned 1).
Most recent results: 2022 – Yorkshire won at Chesterfield by 1 wicket. Most recent defeat – 2012 by 3 wickets at Chesterfield.
Most successive wins: Yorkshire 8 (1972-1975), Derbyshire 3 (1976-1978 and 2005-2006),
Highest innings totals: For Yorkshire, 349-7 (50 overs) at Headingley in 2017. For Derbyshire, 334-8 (50 overs) at Headingley in 2017.
Lowest innings totals: For Yorkshire 117, (28.4/40 overs) at Huddersfield in 1978. For Derbyshire, 87 (30/40 overs) at Scarborough in 1973.
Highest individual score: For Yorkshire, 140 by PSP Handscomb at Headingley in 2017. For Derbyshire, 112 by WL Madsen at Headingley in 2017.
Highest partnerships: For Yorkshire, 165 for the first wicket between MD Moxon (80) and D Byas (106*) at Chesterfield in 1993. For Derbyshire, 158* for the third wicket between CJ Adams (109*) and VP Clarke (77*) at Derby in 1997.
Best bowling figures: For Yorkshire, 6-32 (5.5 overs) by SA Patterson at Headingley in 2010. For Derbyshire, 5-24 (11 overs) by CJ Tunnicliffe at Derby in 1981.
Hat-tricks: For Yorkshire, PW Jarvis at Derby in 1982 (Yorkshire’s first against any opponent. No instance for Derbyshire.
Most dismissals in an innings by a wicketkeeper: For Yorkshire, 5 (all caught) by DL Bairstow at Bradford in 1975, 4 (1 caught 3 stumped) by DL Bairstow at Bradford in 1983 and also (3 caught 1 stumped) at Chesterfield in 1984. For Derbyshire, no instance of 4 or more dismissals.
Most catches in an innings by a fielder: For Yorkshire. 3 by MD Moxon at Chesterfield in 1984, by A McGrath at Derby in 1998 and by MP Vaughan at Headingley in 2007. For Derbyshire, 3 by R Clarke at Headingley in 2008 and by WL Madsen at Headingley in 2017.
At Scarborough – all List A games.
Results: Played 105 matches; Yorkshire won 55, lost 47, No Result 3. (Abandoned 3).
Highest innings total: For Yorkshire 354-7 (50 overs) v Durham in 2025. Against, 375-4 (40 overs) by Surrey in 1994.
Lowest innings total: For Yorkshire 91, (30.1/40 overs)v Surrey in 1970. Against, 87 (30/40 overs) by Derbyshire in 1973.
Highest individual score: For Yorkshire, 191 by DS Lehmann v Nottinghamshire in 2001. Against, 142 by LA Dawson for Hampshire in 2025.
Best bowling figures: For Yorkshire, 5-19 (6 overs) by C White v Somerset in 2002. Against, 5-41 (8 overs) by CL Cairns for Nottinghamshire in 1996.
Compiled by Paul Dyson, Peter Horne and Martyn Webster – members of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians.
