Opener Brendon Par hit a stunning 90-ball 131 as an England Select XI beat a Yorkshire President’s XI as Headingley hosted its first ever Disability fixture today.
Devonian Parr hit 10 fours and six sixes to underpin England’s 240-4 having been invited to bat first on a glorious late summer’s day. He shared 179 for the third wicket with captain Chris Edwards, who finished 60 not out off 61 balls.
Imposing Parr, a gun salesman by trade, retired not out late in England’s 30-over innings, which saw seamers Alex Jervis and Adnan Ghani strike once added to two run outs.
Yorkshire’s team, under Jane Powell’s name, included a handful of current or former internationals – England Learning Disability bowler Jervis one, of them, Pakistan Deaf quick Ghani another.
Former England Physical Disability batter Gordon Laidlaw came out of retirement to captain Yorkshire, who replied with 155 all out inside 27 overs.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Brendon Parr en-route to a fabulous 131 retired not out against Yorkshire today.
Current England PD vice captain Liam Thomas, a Bradford League cricketer with Scholes, top-scored with 39.
He shared 70 for the third wicket with fledgling opener Curtis Sugden, who batted nicely for 26. At 89-2 after 11 overs of their chase, Yorkshire were very much in the game.
Unfortunately, from there, they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Middlesex PD seamer James Nordin led the way with 3-28 from five overs, including the key wicket of Thomas caught at backward point (94-5 in the 14th over).
Fellow seamers Nathan Cadell, Alfie Pyle and Jordan Williams all struck twice.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Captsins Gordon Laidlaw and Chris Edwards of England at the toss.
Laidlaw said: “The day’s been brilliant. To get out there and see two teams competing was really good, and hopefully it put a spectacle on for people watching, showing what Disability Cricket is all about.
“Hopefully they enjoyed it and want to come back for more.
“We had a platform set in the chase when our two left-handers were in, Curtis and Tommo, and going well. But we lost two quick wickets together, which put us behind the rate, and we were chasing it from there.
“Just that extra bit of quality told in the end. Brendon’s a very good player. He’s strong, he’s big, and he hits it far. When he gets going, he’s hard to stop – as we found out.
“We were in the game for a while, but it’s been a fantastic day. We’ve all loved it.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire and England sides line up at Headingley.
