Red Rose man foxes Yorkshire
Mon 13 Jun 2016
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
Former Lancashire batsman Harry Dearden made an excellent unbeaten century as Leicestershire took on Yorkshire in a Championship match at the home of York CC.
York Cricket Club’s ground is situated within a large sporting complex that includes two rugby pitches, tennis courts, squash courts, and a further cricket ground.
A caravan park nestles behind the scorebox which is situated on the opposite side of the field to the very impressive looking pavilion. The flag of York CC was hanging limply and forlornly from a flagpole alongside the pavilion, probably still reflecting on York City FC’s relegation from the Football League.
An overcast morning greeted us on our arrival at the ground, with the morning forecast predicting showers in North Yorkshire.
County had to make two late enforced changes to their team and this resulted in Coach Nic Pothas being included in the 12 as the non batter. The final place being a toss up between Pothas and Charlie Shreck, who was assisting on coaching duties, and Pothas just nosed it.
The day proved to be a tale of two partnerships for Leicestershire with Dearden featuring in both of them; first with Irfan Karim and later with Rob Sayer. These three players were the only ones to reach double figures for County.
James Sykes skippered Leicestershire, called correctly, and elected to bat. Dearden and debutant Oskar Kolk opened up for County.
Dearden took a single from the first ball of the day but Kolk (0) was on his way back from the 4th ball of the over, caught at the wicket by Ben Birkhead off the bowling of our old fried BO ‘Stinker’ Coad. An unfortunate start for Kolk, but his initials OMD lead me to believe his best manoeuvres may come in the dark.
In the 3nd over of the morning another debutant Simon Lambert (3), went caught at second slip by Jarrod Warner again off the bowling of Coad, County being 9-2 off 2.5 overs. Short reigns in York for these two young batsmen reminded me of Richard III, who has connections with both of these counties.
There then followed a good solid, partnership to rebuild the innings between the obdurate Dearden and Karim. Karim made his debut for the County 2s last week, and has already two half-centuries to his name.
The pair’s 50 partnership came up from 78 balls with the score on 59-2 from 15.4 overs. Karim was stroking some lovely boundaries, and complimented them with a maximum over mid wicket off seamer Rhodes.
Meanwhile Dearden was slowly but surely accumulating, blocking with aplomb, and dispatching anything that merited it. The Bury Bulldog does what it says on the tin. Karim glided to a pleasing 50 (5x4/1x6/58 balls) with the score on 86-2 from 20.2 overs.
Almost immediately afterwards Karim (52) went lbw to spinner Azeem Rafiq. Karim left the field shaking his head in frustration with himself as he had been wrapped on the pads by a full toss, begging to be hit.
Karim had stepped up to the plate again with County now on 94-2 from 23.1 overs. Matt Stokes joined Dearden. Stokes (6) went when he mistimed a pull off seamer Ed Barnes, the ball spiralling up to Ben Coad at mid-on, who took the catch.
Ollie Freckingham, promoted to Number 6 joined Dearden, and the pair safely took County into Lunch on 118-4 from 35 overs with Dearden 37* and Freckingham 5*. Freckingham (9) had barely had time to get the taste of food from his mouth before being dismissed from the 4th ball after lunch, edging Coad to Will Rhodes at 2nd slip.
Leo Cammish(3) was shortly afterwards bowled by paceman Jarrod Warner, who comes in from an extremely long run up, I do not even go that far for my holidays! County now 135-6 from 40.3 overs.
Spinner Sayer joined Dearden and the pair set about repairing the damage, to what would prove great effect. The partnership was in its infancy when rain stopped play at 3.05pm with the score on 153-6 from 52 overs, Dearden 53* and Sayer 7*.
Dearden’s innings absolutely blossomed, and he took runs around the wicket going through his full repertoire of shots. He was particularly brutal in the mid-wicket area. Dearden and Sayer posted a 50 partnership from 107 balls with the score on 185-6 from 50.2 overs.
The opener brought up a thoroughly deserved century (11x4/3x6/192 balls) when he deposited spinner Jack Shutt for a maximum over long-off with the score at 221-6 from 65.4 overs.
Dearden’s ton was a template in application, determination and patience. Sayer was at first playing a fine supporting role, watchfully defensively playing balls that deserved respect, but dismissing anything that warranted it.
The 100 partnership between Dearden and Sayer came up from 182 balls and County went into tea on 246-6 from 72 overs, Dearden 109* & Sayer 42*.
In the 3rd over after tea Sayer went to a chanceless half century (8x4/2x6/99 balls) when he launched Shutt over mid-wicket for a maximum. Three balls later he cleared the ropes again off Shutt.
At 5.36pm with the gloom descending over Clifton Park, the Umpires took the players from the field, County 267-6 with Dearden 114* and Sayer 58*. At 6.15pm, with no sign of a break in the clouds, play was abandoned for the day. Yorkshire 2 points, Leicestershire 3 points.
