Yorkshire’s D40 Quest team were beaten by Hampshire on Sunday after getting their season up and running at the second attempt.
Rain had prevented the national champions from playing their Quest League opener against Middlesex at Richmondshire in late April. In fact, the entire programme was washed out that day.
So the competition began with the county suffering a six-wicket defeat at Hartley Wintney CC, the hosts chasing down a 40-over target of 139 in 25 overs.
Yorkshire captain Matt Bateman, a former Hampshire School of Excellence cricketer, was his young side’s standout performer with a patient 43 and one wicket.
Having been inserted, he and new signing Curtis Sugden shared 56 for the fifth wicket to recover Yorkshire to 78-4 before the skipper fell. Wicketkeeper-batter Sugden’s encouraging 39 helped ensure his bowlers had something to work with.
Unfortunately, however, it wasn’t enough, despite Hampshire stumbling to 46-3, with William Baxter striking and affecting a run out. Bateman also struck early.
But wicketkeeper-batter Ben Williams, who top-scored with 73 not out, shared a fourth-wicket stand of 84 with Thomas Millward, who fell for 41 to Dairen Hirst-Spalding – another new signing this summer.
By then, though, the game was up for a Yorkshire side who will look to get back on track when they host Sussex at Higham on Sunday May 26.
Cover photo: Captain Matt Bateman (r) with England bowler Alex Jervis and last year’s D40 Quest League title.
