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.
Day 3
Resuming on 188-2 Eskinazi and Jani took their partnership to 70 before the latter was bowled by Bradley Sylvester, 231-3. Shortly after this Eskinazi reached his century from 176 balls with 14 fours. He was joined by Du Plooy and added 73 in 105 balls before Du Plooy was bowled by Jafer Chohan for 33 from 49 ball. At lunch Middlesex 304-4, Eskinazi 121 not out.
Eskinazi was joined by Wijesinghe and they had added 60 at a run a ball prior to the new ball being taken. They had taken the total to 421 ( a partnership of 117 from 105 balls) when 18 year old Charlie Taylor claimed 3 wickets in 2 overs bowling Wijesinghe and Cullen and having Eskinazi lbw for 170 from 266 balls with 22 fours and a six. This reduced Middlesex to 428-7 and they were dismissed for 494 as Jafer Chohan had Walallawita stumped and bowled Nelson – the last wicket was caught by Chohan off Josh Hoyle and this gave Yorkshire a lead of 88,
Yash Vagadia and Noah Kelly added 89 in 128 balls before Vagadia was bowled for 58 from 67 balls with 8 fours and a six. Will Bennison came in at 3 and was unbeaten at the close on 22 from 57. Unfortunately his partner, Noah Kelly, was run out by a direct hit having made 489 from 87 balls with 8 fours. First innings double centurion, Harry Duke was also not out at the close – Yorkshire 137-2 leading by 225.
Day 4
Leading by 225 overnight Yorkshire sought quick runs in order to set up a declaration. Will Bennison was caught at mid on without adding to his overnight 22, however Harry Duke reached 50 from 55 balls with 6 fours and a six and advanced to 64 from 59 before he was caught at mid wicket – 203-4.
However from 203-3 the last 7 wickets were lost for the addition of 79 runs leaving Middlesex 371 to win in a minim um of 70 overs. At lunch, from 8 overs, they had reached 40 for the loss of Cracknell caught behind by Duke off the bowling of Charlie Taylor.
Sawant and Eskinazi took the total to 106 before Taylor returned to the attack and in the space of 11 deliveries he had Eskinazi lbw for 34 and Jani well taken down the leg sude by Duke for 8. However Sawant had reached 50 from 65 balls with 7 fours and was 96 not out at tea from 116 balls .
Middlesex had lost Du Plooy stumped by Duke off Chohan for 8 but at tea they were well placed at 190-4 needing 181 from a minimum of 30 overs. First ball after tea Wijesinghe was caught by Duke off Akhtar; Sawant completed his century from 124 balls with 13 fours and Nelson made 30 from 31: 244-6 with 21 overs minimum remaining.
Cullen joined Sawant – Sawant reached 150 from 174 balls and Cullen 56 from 60 before he was well caught by Joe Thompson off Josh Hoyle. Cullen and Sawant had added 118 in 115 balls and victory was reached for Middlesex when Walallawita cleared the boundary: 376-7.
A disappointing end to the season that sees Yorkshire finish 13th.
May I take this opportunity to thank anyone and/or everyone who has taken the trouble to read these reports. May you all “Winter well”.
