Winning the toss Yorkshire decided to have first use of the wicket used in Somerset’s T20 quarter final yesterday.
New Zealand test batter, Jeet Raval, opened with Ben Birkhead and he drove his first ball to the boundary – the first of nine fours in a maiden half century made from 79 balls. Unfortunately he was bowled five balls later without adding to his score – the score was 104.
Tom Loten joined Birkhead and they remained unbeaten at lunch when our total had advanced to 116 from 29 overs. They remained together until the last ball before tea when Loten was bowled by Calvin Harrison for 59 – this came from 133 balls with eight fours and he and Birkhead had added 139 in 249 balls.
During the partnership Birkhead reached his half century from 95 balls with nine fours and before the partnership was broken he reached his maiden century from 159 balls with 18 fours. At tea we were 243-2.
Post tea, in an effort to “move the game forward” Yorkshire added 86 in 22 overs for the loss of six wickets and declared at 329-8. Birkhead departed for 112 as he was the 2nd of Harrison’s seven victims. Matthew Waite made 27 and Bilal Anjam 24. Harrison finished with 18 overs 7-71.
Eight overs remained and Somerset closed on 33-1, Matthew Waite claiming the wicket of Tom Banton, lbw for 4.
John Virr – 2nd X1 Scorer
