By John Virr – 2nd X1 Scorer
Day 1
The day was a pleasant surprise in so far as the sun shone and no overs were lost and the fact that the 96 overs were completed on time.
Middlesex won the toss and asked Yorkshire to bat first – at 11-2 it looked a wise decision, however by the closer they probably rued their decision. Noah Kelly and Will Bennison were dismissed in the same over however Skipper, Yash Vagadia and Harry Duke saw us through to lunch without further loss at 107-2, Vagadia had reached 50 from 75 balls with 7 fours and Duke was 42 not out.
Shortly after lunch Vagadia was lbw for 66 from 106 balls with 9 fours. Jawad Akhtar joined Duke and they were still together at tea 227-2. Duke made 50 from 80 balls with 6 fours and was unbeaten on 96 at tea – Akhtar was 47 not out from 109 and they had added 107 from 184 balls.
After tea their partnership extended past 150 from 254 balls and 200 from 325 balls. Duke reached his century from 149 balls with 14 fours and Akhtar reached consecutive hundreds from 193 balls with 12 fours. Their partnership was ended at 215 from 344 balls when Akhtar was lbw for 106 from 201 balls with 13 fours.
Duke reached his 150( his current career highest score) from 224 balls with 18 fours and the close was reached with Yorkshire 361-4.
Day 2
Yorkshire started Day 2 at 361-4 – Joe Thompson 13 not out and Harry Duke 153 not out. Their 50 partnership was brought up from 75 balls , Dukes first 18 scoring shots of the day all being singles. Thompson reached his half century from 82 balls with 7 fours and a six shortly before they brought up their century partnership from 159 balls
Duke got to his double century from 293 balls with 22 fours and at lunch we were 476-4. Dukes next 50 came from 52 balls and their 200 partnership from 286 balls.
Duke had reached 255 (with 28 fours and a six) when he was caught low at short extra cover – 546-5. This led to our final 6 wickets falling for 36 as we reached 582 all out. Thompson fell agonisingly 6 short of a maiden century being bowled for 94 from 173 balls with 9 fours and a six.
Matt Milnes removed Cracknell for 8 but at tea Middlesex had reached 55-1, Sawant 14 not out and Eskinazi 25 not out. The evening session saw Eskinazi reach his half century from 49 balls with 9 fours and at the close he was unbeaten on 75 from 124 balls. Sawant reached his 50 from 77 balls with 6 fours but he was caught at mid off by Milnes off the bowling of Charlie Taylor having made 82 from 97 balls.
At the close Middlesex had reached 188-2.
