Match report.
Yorkshire U14A v Lancashire U14, held at Castleford CC on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th August.
Match drawn between Yorkshire 188 all out (Nico Nicola 34, Matthew Weston 30) and 136-7 (Harry Finch 38, Matthew Weston 25*) and Lancashire 233 all out (George Horbury 4-30).
The next fixture of the U14A season saw the format change to a longer 2-day format, which would provide new tests and learning opportunities for the squad. Skipper Harry Allinson won the toss and elected to bat first on a used pitch at Castleford CC. Openers James Blackburn (14) and Harry Allinson (24) started cautiously in the midst of some disciplined bowling from Lancashire's seamers, before spin was introduced. This had an immediate impact, removing Allinson along with Rhys Ditta (8) and Harry Finch (11) before Matthew Weston (30) fell shortly after reducing Yorkshire to 99-5 at the drinks break midway through the second session of the day. Nico Nicola (34) showed some excellent application to attempt to steer the innings through the remaining overs of the first innings allocation (75 overs), but regular wickets meant Yorkshire were bowled out for 189 in the 75th over; which felt like been 30-40 runs short.
Early breakthroughs were needed to apply the pressure to the Lancashire line-up and Alex Midgley (8-1-31-1) and Clarke Doughney (14-5-34-1) provided these as well as keeping a cap on the run rate. Lancashire's captain Arav Shetty (82) along with Nathan Walker (41) and Dylan Henshaw (33) added some impetus to the Lancashire innings. They took the attack to the Yorkshire boys, piling on just short of 100 runs in a hour before lunch on day 2 in an attempt to tee up a declaration with the pressure telling on the Yorkshire bowling and fielding. After an honest and frank discussion between the lads at the lunch break they came out for the second session determined to fight back, with George Horbury (12-2-30-4) and Noah Priestley (9-2-20-2) leading the way, bowling Lancashire out for 233 in 74 overs.
Talks were had between the coaching staff and captains of both sides in an attempt to set up a run chase towards the end of the day, however an agreement couldn't be reached leaving Yorkshire to attempt to bat out the day to save the game. Regular wickets fell early in the second innings with only Harry Finch (38) showing any real resistance in some tough conditions, facing quality spin bowling on a turning pitch. When Finch fell, Yorkshire were looking in a perilous position at 64-3 with only a 19 run lead and approximately 30 overs left in the day. Rhys Ditta (21) and Matthew Weston (25*) batted with superb patience and discipline in testing conditions to help save the game before James Blackburn (13*) joined Weston for the last few overs to see the match end in a draw with the captains shaking hands. An excellent 2 days of attritional cricket with plenty of learning for both sides, played in a good spirit.
Full scorecard available HERE.