Match reports.
Yorkshire U13A v Kent U14 Development (2 x T20), held at Blackheath CC on Tuesday 31st July 2018.
Game 1
Kent 110-6 beat Yorkshire 98-8 by 12 runs.
After early morning thunderstorms and torrential rain, Yorkshire began their tour of the capital with two Twenty20 fixtures against Kent U14 Development at Blackheath CC.
Upon winning the toss, Yorkshire inserted Kent on a pitch that the batsmen found hard to score runs on. Leo Diffey (1-5) and Caleb Bradford both bowled tightly, well supported by some excellent fielding. Lachlan Doidge, Charlie McMurran and George Crowther all picked up a wicket each. However, Yorkshire failed to make the kill and Kent managed to get to 110-6 in their 20 overs. A target that, at the break, looked easily reachable.
After a quick turn around, openers Isaac Light (17) and Alex Cree (16) found the going tough - the score reaching 30 at the half way mark. Only Elias Smith, with a run a ball 22, got into double figures as the pressure told on the middle and late order. Yorkshire finished on a disappointing 98-8, 12 runs short of what should have been a comfortable victory.
Full scorecard available HERE.
Game 2
Kent 120-7 (Doidge 2-13) beat Yorkshire 118-5 (Tom Miller 35, Lachlan Doidge 25) by 3 wickets
In their second game of the day, Yorkshire got off to a much quicker start, with Tom Miller (35) top scoring during his first bat in the A team this season. Lachlan Doidge (25) added some impetus to the innings, and with the score on 80 after 13 overs, Yorkshire were well placed to push on to a sizeable score. However, the middle order failed to fire and the score limped to 118-5 when the innings closed.
A spirited bowling performance kept the scoring rate to a minimum, with Caleb Bradford, Matthew Simms, Alex Wood and Doidge all bowling well. However, with 50 needed in the last 5 overs, Kent hit out, combined with some erratic bowling, resulting in Kent emerging victorious with 2 balls to go.
A disappointing opening day for the boys on their mini tour to the capital.
Full scorecard available HERE.
Yorkshire U13A v Kent U14 Development, held at Dartford CC on Wednesday 1st August 2018.
Kent 188 all out (Lachlan Doidge 3-40) beat Yorkshire 128 all out (Alex Cree 45, Sam Spenceley 44) by 61 runs.
Day 2 saw Yorkshire make the short trip from their base in Woolwich to Dartford CC to play Kent U14 Development in a 50 overs game.
After winning the toss, Kent elected to bat on a green looking pitch that looked like it would offer assistance to the bowlers. Kent got off to a quick start, bringing up 50 in the first 10 overs. However, they lost 3 early wickets; George Crowther picking up 2-30. The introduction of spin curtailed the early assault, as both Lachlan Doidge (3-40) and Caleb Bradford (0-24) offered some control. Kent's middle order kept the scoreboard ticking over, punishing the bad delivery and running well between the wickets. Alex Wood bowled a much improved spell of off spin, taking 2-33, along with Matthew Simms, who picked up a useful 2-15. Kent finishing on 189 all out in 44.2 overs. Isaac Light finished with 3 catches and a stumping in his best performance of the season. 190 to win was a target that looked well within Yorkshire's reach.
In reply, Yorkshire got off to a slow start. Both Alex Cree and Sam Spenceley found penetrating the field difficult. The pair put on 98 for the first wicket in 30 overs, with Cree eventually falling for 45 in 93 balls. This triggered a collapse as batsmen tried to step up the tempo. Spenceley went for 44 in 103 balls, but 3 run outs and only Charlie McMurran (12) getting into double figures meant Yorkshire were bowled out for 128 in 43.4 overs.
Full scorecard available HERE.
Yorkshire U13A v Essex U13, held at Chigwell School on Thursday 2nd August 2018.
Yorkshire 302-5 (Lachlan Doidge 60, Alex Cree 59*, Alex Wood 45, Matthew Hood 37, Elias Smith 36) beat Essex 196-9 (Caleb Bradford 4-27) by 106 runs.
The final day saw Yorkshire play Essex U13 at the beautiful Chigwell School ground, just inside the M25.
Yorkshire made first use of a wicket that resembled the M25! A new opening partnership of Lachlan Doidge and Alex Wood went out with instructions to impose themselves on the Essex attack. After 10 overs, the score was on 94 with both batsmen punishing anything wide, full or short. Doidge eventually fell for a characteristic 60 off only 40 balls. Wood soon followed having played his best knock of the season with 45 off 43 balls. Thereafter, Zak Jahangir and captain Matthew Hood consolidated the innings, finding hitting the ball through the field more difficult against some good leg spin. Jahangir fell for 24 off 37 balls, soon followed by Hood for 37 off 57 balls, leaving Yorkshire on 193-4 with 15 overs left. Some useful runs from Elias Smith (36 off 34 balls) left Alex Cree and Leo Diffey to finish off the innings. Coach Rafique set the challenge of 50 off the last 5 overs and the two batsmen scored 52! Cree showed his class with delicate cuts combined with powerful drives to complete 59* off 44 balls while Diffey finished with 24* off 15 balls. Yorkshire finished on 302-5 in their 45 overs.
In reply, Essex got off to a brisk start. Both openers looked confident against the pace of George Crowther and Diffey. Matthew Simms bowled well for the third day on the trot but it was Charlie McMurran who made the break through before leaving the field after being stung on the leg. The introduction of spin slowed down the run rate, as Caleb Bradford (4-27) then Wood, Hood and Doidge weaved their magic, ably backed up by some good keeping from Isaac Light behind the stumps. Essex finished 106 runs short when the innings closed.
Full scorecard available HERE.
Lots of good performances against some strong opposition and lots of lessons to be learned! Many thanks to all our opponents and many thanks to all the parents, grandparents and siblings for their support on our tour.