George Hill and Harry Duke both recorded half-centuries during an encouraging day of red-ball batting for Yorkshire against Somerset in Abu Dhabi today.
Yorkshire finished the opening day of their tour-ending two-day friendly on 311-9.
Duke top-scored with 61 after Hill had retired unbeaten with 51 against a Somerset attack including the likes of Craig Overton, Jake Ball, Lewis Gregory, Josh Davey, Archie Vaughan and England spin duo Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach.
Openers Adam Lyth and Fin Bean batted twice, with both out cheaply. But there were a host of notable contributions from elsewhere, led by James Wharton’s 49.
Picture by YCCC. George Hill was one of two Yorkshire batters to post a half-century against Somerset. Harry Duke, cover picture, was the other.
Jonny Bairstow made 37 from number four in the order, while Dom Bess and Jonny Tattersall contributed 27 apiece and Matthew Revis 25.
Overton struck twice for Somerset, as did fellow seamer Alfie Ogborne, their young left-armer. Bashir, Davey, Ben Green, Leach and England Under 19s captain Vaughan all claimed one wicket apiece for the Taunton outfit.
Wharton and Bairstow shared 65 for the third wicket from 3-2, while Hill and Tattersall shared 61 for the fifth wicket from 108-4.
Yorkshire’s fifth and final game day of their fortnight-long tour will see them bowl tomorrow.
Picture by YCCC. Jonny Tattersall and Jonny Bairstow were both in the runs in Abu Dhabi today.
GEORGE HILL SAID:
“On a wicket like that – being so slow – it was about spending time in the middle and grafting it out. It was really good fun being out there.
“Speaking to Wharts when we came off, we said that we felt a bit rusty to start with. It was a bit different for us both last year having been away in the winter. So it was a big confidence-boost to be able to get through a tricky start and thankfully get some runs.
“I’m not particularly looking forward to bowling on that wicket!
“It’s just about getting our own outcomes out of it. We’ve spoken about being really consistent and holding length. Especially on a wicket like that, which is so slow, margin for error can be a bit smaller. It will be a good challenge.”
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