Match report.
Yorkshire U14 Development v Lancashire U14 Development (2 day game), held at Ossett CC on Mon/Tues 6th/7th August 2018.
Yorkshire 277-6 dec (Jack Brady 81*, Sam Mindham 54, Jack Oakley 33, George Barden 33, Jasper Male 26*) & 164-4 (Kieran Donnachie 60, George Barden 47) beat Lancashire 282-8 dec (George Booth 2-29) & 163-3 dec (Alfie Spencer 2-12) by 6 wickets.
Lancashire won the toss on a sweltering Monday morning in Ossett and chose to bat first. Yorkshire got off to the perfect start, as opening bowlers George Booth and Mansoor Shinwari each claimed a wicket in their first over to leave the visitors shaken on 4-2. From then on, Lancashire dug deep, putting together a number of useful partnerships. The score rose steadily, with the visitors progressing at a reasonably constant rate of four an over. All the Yorkshire bowlers toiled hard in the heat, picking up the odd wicket here and there as Lancashire reached 282-8 by their mandatory 70 over first innings cut off.
Yorkshire had 32 overs left in the day to negotiate. After the early loss of both openers, George Barden (33) steadied the ship, before Jack Oakley and Sam Mindham added valuable runs as Yorkshire saw the day out at 112-3. Tuesday morning came and the innings resumed. Oakley (33) failed to add to his overnight score but Mindham (54) pressed on past his half century before he was dismissed. Batting at six, Jack Brady had gotten himself set by now and, following the dismissal of the skipper Ksitij Kapote, was joined at the crease by keeper batsman Jasper Male. Brady (81*) and Male (26*) took the score from 192-6 to over 270 by tea. Brady's authority at the crease, combined with his power hitting had taken it's toll on the Lancashire side. Yorkshire batted for just one over after lunch before declaring on 277-6 from 68 overs.
Lancashire began their second innings in a similar fashion to how they had begun the first as Shinwari tore in to clean bowl the Red Rose opener as he attempted to leave a searingly quick, straight one. Lancashire proceeded with caution in the afternoon session as the Yorkshire bowlers chipped away. At tea, Lancashire were on 100-3 with the game in danger of petering out, with 36 overs to go. A declaration total was agreed. Lancashire would set Yorkshire around 160 to win in 30 overs and try and bowl the hosts out in that time. Both sides had a good chance of winning once again! With no innings really going at more than 4 per over so far, almost 5.5 an over would be a tough ask in the fourth innings. The declaration bowlers came on and the chase was set up - 164 to win.
Yorkshire opener James Blackburn began the chase in emphatic fashion, as he crashed the first over for 10 and Lancashire heads went down. Blackburn was sadly dismissed just after though as Yorkshire number three George Barden came out to join Kieran Donnachie in the middle. Donnachie (60) and Barden (47) batted supremely as they shared a partnership of 121 in good time to completely take the game away from Lancashire. But, with the score on 139, both fell in successive balls with 4 overs to go and just over a run a ball needed! Despite the further loss of Sam Mindham, Jack Oakley (13* from 7 balls) and Jack Brady (6* from 6) defied any hints of pressure, seeing Yorkshire home to a memorable win with an over and a half to spare in the game!
A brilliant game of cricket! Hats off to Lancashire for making it such a great game and giving both sets of young cricketers a chance at a 2 day win! Huge thanks also to Ossett CC, who were fantastic hosts over the two days and to Rita for tirelessly scoring a top contest!
Full scorecard available HERE.