Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Harry Duke had a day to remember as Yorkshire won at Radlett today, starring with the wicketkeeping gloves and impressing with the bat.
Harry Duke was a proud man as he reflected on his record-breaking role in Yorkshire’s latest Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory today, this time over Middlesex at Radlett.
Yorkshire are closing in on a place in the knockout stages of this competition for the first time since 2021.
They have won four from five games and sit top of the Group B table on 16 points as they bid for a top-three finish. With three games remaining, that is now looking very likely.
If they continue to play like they did in Hertfordshire today, it’s difficult to see how they won’t qualify.
Duke became the first Yorkshire wicketkeeper to ever claim six victims in a List A innings. All of his were catches, and he usurped the late David Bairstow, Richard Blakey and Gerard Brophy, who had all previously taken five.
He expertly played a helping hand as Middlesex were bowled out for 129 before capping off the chase with 28 not out alongside Imam-Ul-Haq, who finished unbeaten on 54. Those two shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 63.
Earlier, Matt Milnes impressed with four wickets, Ben Coad three, George Hill two and Jack White one, the White Rose seamers wreaking havoc on a pitch with invariable bounce.
“I didn’t know about the record,” said Duke. “I thought there’d be a couple more above that. But, no, very surprised. Sometimes you have days where you’re not too busy in 50-over cricket, but today it’s just one of those days where they nicked a lot.
“I mean, I just did my job for the lads who bowled, really. There weren’t too many extravagant catches in there. It was just business as usual.
“But what’s most pleasing is another few points on the board, and we keep pushing up the top there.”
The 23-year-old gloveman continued: “It was a pretty good day all round.
“The bowlers again, outstanding – everyone putting their hand up and just passing the bat on to each other every time.
“Talk about holding length, that’s exactly what the boys did up top. Obviously, Whitey and Coady have been doing it all comp. And Milnesy, picking up four at the end.
“It shows we’re building quite nicely.”
On the pitch, Duke said: “It did feel soft this morning. It felt pretty soft on top, with your spikes going in. So we were pretty shocked with their decision, but we were happy with it.
“We managed to put them under pressure straightaway, didn’t we. They were 1-2, and we drove the game nicely.”
And on Imam’s innings, the Pakistani overseas star, continuing his excellent start to life with the county, Duke added: “He’s shown his quality all the way through since he’s first arrived at the club.
“He offers so much as well. At the end there, talking me through that last tricky little 40-run chase. He’s really passing on a lot of his knowledge and his insight on 50-over cricket to the group, which has been brilliant to see.”
