Match report.
Yorkshire U14A v Cheshire U14 at Castleford CC - Monday 11th June
Yorkshire 229-9 (50 overs) (Rhys Ditta 52, Nico Nicola 32, Noah Priestley 27) beat Cheshire 157 all out (44.3 overs) (Matthew Weston 3-2, Max Didgiunaitis 2-25, Jack Young 2-32, Noah Priestley 1-18, Clarke Doughney 1-31).
On a warm sunny day, Castleford CC hosted the first game of the U14A season and ECB Royal London Cup competition. Captain Matthew Weston won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Weston and Kieran Donnachie got the innings off to a solid start before Donnachie (12) was dismissed LBW with the score on 36, bringing Rhys Ditta to the crease. Immediately the run rate increased with Ditta showing some good intent, especially against the spinners. The loss of Weston (22) brought Nico Nicola to the crease for his Yorkshire debut. Ditta and Nicola added 86 for the 3rd wicket before a small flurry of wickets; Ditta (52) Nicola (32), Finch (9) and Douglas (0). With the innings in danger of falling short of what would have been a par score, at 160-6, some excellent lower order hitting from Kapote (17) and Midgley (22*) saw Yorkshire post 229-9 from their 50 overs.
Max Didgiunaitis (2-25), making his A team debut, and Alex Midgley (0-13), making his full Yorkshire debut, set the tone at the start of the Cheshire innings, reducing the visitors to 16-2, before an excellent counter attack saw Cheshire reach the first drinks break (17 overs in) at 72-2. Yorkshire's spin twins Jack Young (2-32) and Clarke Doughney (1-31) then took key wickets and pushed the required run-rate up past 7 runs per over. Skipper Weston brought himself on at the end of Doughney's spell. Weston took 3 of the last 4 wickets in his short spell, finishing with impressive figures of 2.3-2-2-3 as Cheshire were bowled out for 157.
A good professional victory against tough opposition in this first fixture should set the lads up nicely for the challenges that lie ahead in the rest of the season. Many thanks to Castleford CC for their magnificent support in hosting this fixture. Next up, Lancashire away on Sunday 17th June.
Full scorecard available HERE.