By John Virr – 2nd X1 Scorer
With 2 more debutants in Tom Fraine and Tom Bradley Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bowl first. Matthew Fisher struck in the first over having Geddes caught behind by Harry Duke for nought and he then had Coyne well caught by Owen Smith at 3rd slip and Sykes lbw to reduce Surrey to 17-3 in the 7th over.
Blake and Wijesurya added 64 for the 4th wicket before the former was again caught behind to give Ben Cliff his first wicket of the day. Wijesurya and Majid remained unbeaten at lunch at 95-4. Wijesurya had reached 43 when he became the first wicket for debutant Bradley, again caught behind. Cliff comprehensively bowled Ealham for 2 and Bradley bowled Barnwell for 1 and Surrey were 124-7.
Taylor and Majid added 28 in 29 balls before the former was bowled by Chinmay Mullapudi for 15 and an hour after lunch rain stopped play with Surrey 152-8.
Twenty minutes were lost but, at this stage no overs and shortly after the restart Duke took his 4th catch of the innings off Fisher and Surrey were 159-9. However a last wicket stand of 37 in 71 balls between Majid and Stuart-Reckling took Surrey to 196 before Bradley took his 3rd wicket and Duke his 5th catch.
Yorkshire’s reply had reached 9 without loss when rain caused a halt and 4 overs were lost. On resuming the light deteriorated and more rain caused a halt to the day but not before Yash Vagadia had been caught at slip to what turned out to be the final ball. Play was called off for the day at 6pm, Yorkshire 31-1.
Day 2
Despite heavy overnight rain, play resumed on time with Yorkshire 31-1. Noah Kelly joined Tom Fraine and they advanced the score to 70 before Kelly was caught at 1st slip by former Tyke, Will Fraine who was substituting for Surrey due to an injury to Geddes. Kelly made 10 from 39 balls.
Next to go was Tom Fraine caught behind for a well made 37 from 76 balls with 5 fours and a six – 83-3. Harry Duke and Will Bennison safely made it to lunch at 107-3 and post lunch had taken the total to 126 before Duke was caught behind down the leg side for 24.
Jawad Akhtar came in at number 6 and he had made 12 when Bennison was caught behind for 30 from 82 balls. Owen Smith was another to be caught behind, for 6 and Yorkshire were 163-6 trailing by 30. Matthew Fisher joined Akhtar and tea was reached without further loss and importantly a lead of 18 – 214-6.
Fisher made 39 from 54 with 4 fours and a six before being bowled but shortly after Akhtar reached consecutive half centuries from 124 balls with 8 fours and he was finally bowled for an excellent 78 from145 balls with 14 fours.
Hen-Boisen made 16 and Ben Cliff 9 before Barnwell claimed his 5th wicket and our innings closed on 292, a lead of 96.
Only 2 overs of Surreys 2nd innings were possible before bad light and rain closed play – Surrey 3-0.
Day 3
Surrey started 3-0 from 2 overs with 104 overs ahead. Coyne was caught at 3rd slip by Owen Smith off Chinmay Mullapudi for 14 and our visitors were 26-1. Former Tyke, Will Fraine was joined by the Surrey skipper, Josh Blake and they added 81 before Fraine was caught behind off Alex Wade having made 56 from 88 balls and survived 2 missed catches. Sykes and Blake were unbeaten at lunch as Surrey reached 139-2.
Shortly after lunch Blake reached his 50 from 76 balls with 4 fours and Sykes was caught behind for 33. However Wijesurya joined Blake and at tea they had advanced to 308-3 with Blake reaching his century from 155 balls.
After tea their partnership passed 200 and Wijesurya reached his century from 125 balls with 14 fours. The new ball was taken and Matthew Fisher took 2 wickets in an over – Wijesurya smartly caught at 3rd slip by Yash Vagadia for 112 and Majid bowled for nought.
Blake continued and passed 150 from 220 balls and he and Ealham added 97 from 125 balls before the latter was bowled by Josh Hen-Boisen for 26. Blake reached 200 from 273 balls and he ended the day unbeaten on 210 and Surrey closed on 503-7, a lead of 407.
Day 4
Surrey declared at their overnight score of 503-7 leaving Yorkshire 408 to win in 80 overs plus the statutory last hour and what a day it turned out to be as the total was reached with almost 10 overs to spare in recording a 6 wicket victory.
Initially Yash Vagadia and Tom Fraine were careful against the new ball but Fraine was bowled by Dunn for 7; 25-1. However, Noah Kelly and Vagadia safely navigated the rest of the morning session and lunch was reached at 98-1, an unbroken partnership of 73 in 122 balls – Vagadia 40 not out and Kelly 31 not out.
Shortly after lunch Vagadia reached 50 from 89 balls with 9 fours and the 100 partnership posted from 150 balls. However on 58 Vagadia was bowled by Dunn; 134-2 with almost 35 overs gone.
Kelly reached his half century from 98 balls with 7 fours and the 50 partnership with Harry Duke came up in 124 balls. Kelly was caught behind off Ealham for 74 made from 159 balls with 11 fours.
Duke, who at this juncture was 26 not out from 60 balls was joined by 17 year old Will Bennison and they reached tea at 185-3 from 59 overs still requiring 223 for victory. After tea Duke brought up his half century from a further 25 balls with 7 fours in total and the 50 partnership with Bennison from only 57 balls.
Bennison reached his maiden half century from 60 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes as the pair appeared to transfer into 1 day mode as the field spread. The 100 partnership came in 92 balls, the 150 in 129 balls and the 200 in 161 balls.
Bennison reached his century with a six from only 90 balls but was caught at slip shortly after for an excellent 106 from 95 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes. Meanwhile Duke made his century from 123 balls with 13 fours and posted a career best 124 not out from 134 balls, Jawad Akhtar hitting the winning run and finishing 7 not out.
A topsy turvy 4 days finished in glorious sunshine and a home victory by 6 wickets.
A mention to everyone at York CC for their help and hospitality.
