Match report.
On 16th July, Yorkshire U11 Pheonix ventured over to Rainford CC to play the annual U11 away fixture against Lancashire for the Tony Hemingway trophy, which the White Rose has retained for the last 8 years. Skipper Daniel Longley won his first toss of the season and didn’t hesitate to put Lancs into bat on what was a rather green wicket. Opening bowlers Josh Tynan and Ibrahim Shakil gave nothing away, bowling fast tight line and lengths that proved problematic for the Lancashire openers and, after 9 overs, Lancs were 13-1; Tynan taking the wicket and finishing his 5 over spell with 1-4. This led to the introduction of Tom Bradley, who tore through the Lancashire batting order without breaking sweat, taking 6 wickets in his 4 overs for just 7 runs. The best figures set by any bowler in this fixture since records have been kept (from 2003).
At the other end Aiden Gaunt-Edwards gave no wiggle room for the Red Rose and took two wickets for himself for just seven runs in five overs. The final wicket of the innings fell to spinner Musa Altof. Lancashire were bowled all out for just 30 inside 20 overs, with every one of those wickets being bowled. It took just 11 overs to knock off the set total for the loss of just two wickets, opener Aarush Shinde being top scorer with 10*.
As the match ended very swiftly, tea wasn’t taken until the end of the game, where a proposed T12 was to be played in the boys colour training kit and with the pink ball which the boys were very excited about. A change in batting order was decided upon, to go out attacking from the first ball with Alex Steel and Connor Sanderson taking guard. Steel set the tone, scoring 16 off 14 balls until he was bowled trying to further push on the score, it was Tom Bradley again putting the Red Rose to the sword, this time with the bat, scoring 42* off 29 balls, along with cameos from his fellow team mates, ending the innings 81-6. In their reply, Lancs got off to the worse start, as after two overs they were 2-2. But that brought E.Lawrence to the crease. He didn’t bat in the previous game, but showed destructive capabilities with the bat, scoring 51 off 37 and brought Lancashire within touching distance of victory, needing just 6 off the last over. But Lawrence was dismissed first ball of the final over - bowled by Aiden Guant-Edwards - showing terrific nerve to bowl with pace and accuracy under pressure. This left Lancs needing 3 to win off the last ball. Aiden responded by nipping the top of leg stump to close the innings, Yorkshire winning by 2 runs.
A total 14 wickets were taken by the Pheonix boys over the two games, 13 of them bowled. A great effort by all the boys in defeating the Red Rose...twice!