Yorkshire Cricket Board

Without inspirational leader James Spencer, Yorkshire Girls Under 15’s ventured to Welbeck in Nottinghamshire for the first of two 20/20 fixtures. Yorkshire had overcome opponents, Nottinghamshire in their second RL cup game just a few weeks earlier, with Shropshire a side they had not encountered this year.

The first game saw Yorkshire play Shropshire, on an overcast morning. Skipper for the game Rebecca Coe lost the toss and was asked to bowl. Yorkshires opening pair of Rachel Slater (3-0-13-0) and Emilia Rossi (3-1-9-0) bowled with pace and skill offering very little to the Shropshire opening batsmen, however both finished wicket less from their 3 over spells.

Captain Coe rung the changes in search of the first wicket. Off spinner Emma Brown came on and with the third ball of her second over got the breakthrough Yorkshire needed with a return catch of her own bowling. Bowling in partnership with Grace Hall the pair continued to build pressure and wickets started to steadily fall. Another Brown caught and bowled and a smart catch by Phoebe Turner helped Brown to figures of 4-0-18-3 while Hall’s tight line and length helped her to return figures of 2-0-5-2, including two wickets in two balls to help blow away Shropshire’s middle order.

The job of limiting the Shropshire total fell to Annie Cardwell (2-0-11-0) and Phoebe Turner (2-1-5-3) who produced a wicket maiden in her first over. Turner then took two wickets in her second over, one caught and bowled, one caught by the ever-energetic Fran Goldthorp at short cover. It was Goldthorp who would also come on to finish the innings returning figures of 2-1-1-1 removing the last batsman, caught behind by keeper Ophelia Watson.

The focus then turned to batting. The aim from the opening partnership of Annie Cardwell and Leah Dobson was getting the side off to a positive start in chasing down Shropshire’s 65. Dobson Fell early for 4, well caught at square leg. Cardwell and Goldthorp looked to rebuild, running brilliantly between the wickets to heap the pressure on to Shropshire’s fielders. The 40-run partnership came in just 8 overs, before Fran was bowled for 15 by one that kept a little low. This brought Grace Hall to the middle who got off the mark with a push through the covers for 2 as Hall and Cardwell took Yorkshire to the brink of victory. With the score on 64 Cardwell was dismissed for 22, caught off a leading edge just 2 runs short of the target. Emma Brown strolled out and could only watch as Hall hit the winning runs to finish 19 not out.

The second game saw Yorkshire face Nottinghamshire. A change in captain saw Amy Jobbling take over from Rebecca Coe who won the toss and elected to bat. Jobling opened the batting along with hard the hitting Leah Dobson. The opening pair put on 32 in quick time before Dobson fell LBW for 20.

The new batsmen Grace Hall again wasted no time getting going hitting a four off her second ball. Hall and Jobling continued to build a total until Hall was dismissed for 18 with the score on 72.

The new batsmen Rachel Slater started steadily accumulating ones and twos, rotating the strike with the set batsmen. Slater accelerated through her innings before been bowled for 23 with the score on 99. Fran Goldthorp batting at 5 managed to add 7 not out to the overall total. However, the standout innings was skipper Jobling, who scored 52 before being dismissed off the last ball of the innings to post a competitive 128-4.

Again, Yorkshire’s bowling was opened by the left arm Rachel Slater (3-0-5-0) and Grace Hall (4-0-11-3). Both gave the Nottinghamshire batsmen very little however Rachel’s spell was cut short by an injury to her knee. Hall again bowled with discipline and was backed up well in the field with catches from Goldthorp and Coe.

As against Shropshire Emma Brown (3-0-7-2) was the first bowling change, picking up a brace of LBWs to cap a good day with the ball. She was joined by Goldthorp (3-0-17-0) who bowled with little luck.

The task of finishing the Nottinghamshire innings was left to Rebecca Coe (2.3-0-5-3) and Kathrine Walker (1-0-2-0). Coe bowled full and straight forcing the Nottinghamshire lower order to play at most balls. Ably assisted by Goldthorp at cover who took 2 catches.

Unfortunately, an illness to the named Nottinghamshire number 11 meant the innings was curtailed early.

Yorkshire move on next week to a busy week including the first roses clash of the season at Burnley CC and the first fixture against Cheshire to be played at Warrington CC, both games are scheduled to start at midday.