A Brilliant Century From Matthew Waite

Yorkshire's second eleven had to make do with a draw in leafy Hertfordshire against the MCC Young Cricketers. However, the visitors more than atoned for a shambolic one-day performance against the same opposition from earlier in the week. Nevertheless, it was such a pity that an exciting end to the contest was curtailed when thunder and lightning gatecrashed the home team's run chase. 

The hosts had been left to pursue 276 off 67 overs. They had made a cautious start when the English summer made its unwelcome presence felt. Nevertheless, the Tykes can take some positives from the proceedings.

Most deserving of a round of applause is young Matthew Waite who struck an unbeaten ton, whilst batting at number eight. Matthew and Nathan Firn added 158 runs in only 130 minutes as they transformed the away team's first innings after it had collapsed from 100 for the loss of one wicket to 149 for the loss of seven wickets. Before the deluge of wickets, Eliot Callis had demonstrated a return to form with a decent half century, although his efforts were eclipsed by the heroics of Firn and Waite. 

Then James Wainman stepped up to the plate and delivered a fine spell of accurate bowling which ensured a healthy first-innings lead. Again, second time around, the white rose's batting proved to be fragile, and it took an admirable knock from Jordan Thompson to rescue the northerners this time, thereby ensuring a decent target was required by the hosts. However, it would be the thunder and lightning which had the last laugh and contrived to ruin any chance of a positive outcome for either team in this hotly-contested skirmish.

MCC Young Cricketers versus YORKSHIRE SECOND ELEVEN; at Shenley; August 12th-14th; YORKSHIRE SECOND ELEVEN won the toss.

YORKSHIRE SECOND ELEVEN first innings: 348 for eight declared (Waite 112*, Firn 64, Callis 61; Piesley 4-85)

MCC Young Cricketers first innings: 247 (Piesley 71; Wainman 4-55, Gibson 3-39)

YORKSHIRE SECOND ELEVEN second innings: 174 for nine declared (Thompson 80; Joshi 3-36)

MCC Young Cricketers second innings: 24 for 0

Match drawn. MCC Young Cricketers 10 points, YORKSHIRE SECOND ELEVEN 13 points.