Bowley Takes Five on Third Day
Thu 21 Jul 2022
By Pete Johnson
Yorkshire closed day three on 277-7 when bad light brought a premature end to proceedings. Leicestershire having restricted Yorkshire to 213 runs in the day from 83.5 overs. Nat Bowley picking up a 5-fer in consecutive matches.
Wall-to-wall sunshine was the order of the day again when we arrived at Weetwood ‘Club Tropicana’ Sports Ground for Day three of the SEC match between Yorkshire and Leicestershire.
Day 3 would comprise of 104 overs (3 x 2hour 10 minute sessions) to in some way make up for the early finish on Day two.. Arron Lilley came into the Leicestershire team, replacing Rehan Ahmed.
Yorkshire resumed on their overnight 64-1, Harry Allinson 22*, Gary Ballance 9*, trailing Leicestershire by 433 runs. In the morning session, Leicestershire bowled 31 overs and restricted Yorkshire to just 49 runs and picking up two wickets in the process.
Ballance (12) 29b went in the 7th over of the morning caught at 1st slip by Hassan Azad off Will Davis. Just reward for Davis who bowled an impressive, and frugal spell. Nat Bowley was introduced to the attack at the Pavilion End at 12.37pm, and bowled unchanged until 3.29pm.
Allinson (46) 115b became Bowley’s first victim when he was lbw attempting to hit across the line. Yorkshire 105-3 from 42.6 overs. Yorkshire into lunch on 113-3 from 51 overs. Harry Duke 14*, Tom Loten 3*.
During the morning session I had noticed that the Emley TV Transmitter some 25 miles away near Huddersfield, did not have a heat haze around it, as it had done during the first two days, a sure sign that the heat was not so intense today.
After lunch, Duke was put down at mid wicket when on 27 off the bowling of Ed Barnes. Unlucky for Barnes who was bowling with pace and adding a liberal sprinkling of bouncers to his repertoire.
Duke and Loten brought up their 50 partnership from 143 balls, the score on 155-3 from 66.4 overs. Left-arm seamer, Josh Hull, making his 2nd XI debut, had bowled two spells from the Oakley Hall End, returning commendable figures of 8-2-11-0.
A couple of overs later, Loten (37) 97b was stumped by Sam Bates off a delivery that Bowley gave a little more air to. Two overs later Yash Vagadia (10) 14b was pinned in front by Bowley. Bowley having had two previous lbw appeals turned down against Vagadia that may have quite possibly registered on the Richter Scale! Yorkshire 177-5 from 70.6 overs.
Alex Cree (8) 8b, soon afterwards, was caught behind by Bates off Griffiths. Apt reward for Griffiths who had been the victim of a couple of streaky boundaries behind the wicket.
Three overs later Bowley claimed five wickets for the innings when he caught and bowled Ben Coad (7) 10b. Yorkshire 203-7 from 76.4 overs. Back-to-back 5-fers for Bowley after he picked up five wickets against Nottinghamshire at Uppingham School in the previous 2nd XI game.
What’s that they say about London Buses? Bowley’s figures at the time 21.4-6-74-5. A tremendous effort from the lean, mean Off Spinning Machine! Yorkshire on 203-7 from 76.4 overs.
Duke 48* and Harry Sullivan 10* took Yorkshire into tea on 220-7 from 84 overs. Play was not able to start immediately after tea due to bad light, three overs being lost.
In the second over after the restart, Duke went to his 50 (3x4) 142b. His last 11 scoring shots before his half century all being singles, and there were 34 singles in his fifty. More singles than you would see in a series of Love Island, not that I watch it, only going on what I am told!
It was getting quite dull overhead, and the umpires kept glancing skywards. Duke and Sullivan brought up their 50 partnership from 100 balls, when the score reached 253-7 from 93.2 overs. Leicestershire took the new ball at the end of the 93rd over.
Lilley and Bowley having first use of it. The only other time that Bowley has had his hands on a new ball was years ago, as a youngster, when his parents bought him one for his birthday!
Barnes and Davis came into the attack when the light improved somewhat. The umpires conferred on four occasions about the light between 5.10pm and 5.38pm. Duke took a blow to the helmet from a Barnes delivery that went for four leg byes, after which the umpires took the players from the field due to bad light at 5.45pm.
Play for the day was subsequently called off at 6.02pm. Yorkshire 277-7 from 103.5 overs, trailing by 220 runs. Duke 82* Sullivan 28*. Yorkshire 4 points, Leicestershire 5 points.
A full scorecard can be read HERE
