Geldart 48 as Academy introduce new faces
Callum Geldart, right, top-scored for Yorkshire Academy with 48 in their two-day "Friendly" match against Cheshire Development XI at Shaw Lane, Barnsley.
Academy skipper John Blain won the toss, and led out a very young team with three debutants - Billy Root, Johnny Booth and Jack Leaning.
Alex Lilley made an early breakthrough, and Cheshire were struggling at 20-2. Unfortunately, Alex suffered a back injury, and could bowl only four overs.
Chris Loveridge claimed No. 3 Hurst, and Cheshire were 70-3. Moore and Simpson both made 89, and put on 116 for the fourth wicket. Halkon made 60 not out at No. 7 but, strangely for a two-day four-innings match, Cheshire batted on after tea. They finally declared at 337-8.
Academy were left to bat for 30 overs before the close - and they advanced to 130-2, Billy Root impressing with 42, and Geldart had nine fours in his 48. The diminutive Booth, making his debut at No. 3, was crowded by the Cheshire fielders, but he calmly batted out the day with Jack Hargreaves.
A poor overnight forecast suggested that no play would be possible, but the players emerged on time. Neither Booth nor Hargreaves were troubled by the spin or pace, but the threatened rain arrived, and the players left the field at 160-2. They took an early lunch. Booth struck three fours, and never gave a chance in his 32 not out, and Hargreaves also hit three fours in his 28 not out. The weather was the ultimate winner, and the match was abandoned after the early break.
Cheshire Development XI Innings: J Kettle (captain) lbw b A Lilley 11, L Bentley b A Lilley 4, D Hurst c C Younes b C Loveridge 22, R Moore c J Hargreaves b M Chadwick 89, C Simpson b J Hargreaves 89, T Parfett c C Geldart b J Hughes 8, D Halkon not out 60, P Roberts (wicket-keeper) b C Loveridge 1, A Shaw c C Younes b C Loveridge 8, C Williamson not out 9. Extras (b 14, lb 5, w 6, nb 11) 36
Total (8 wkts) 337
DNB: J Fawcett and J Hawley
FoW: 1-15, 2-20, 3-70, 4-186, 5-204, 6-288, 7-292, 8-307
Bowling: M Chadwick 13-2-43-1, A Lilley 4-0-15-2, J Hargreaves 10-0-66-1, C Loveridge 9.4-0-71-3, C Younes 4-0-20-0, J Hughes 9-2-30-1, J Booth 10-0-49-0, B Root 3-0-19-0
Yorkshire Academy Innings: B Root c A Shaw b J Fawcett 42, C Geldart c P Roberts b R Moore 48, J Booth not out 32, J Hargreaves not out 28. Extras (b 5, nb 5) 10
Total (2 wkts) 160
DNB: J Hughes, C Younes, A Lilley, C Loveridge, M Chadwick, J Leaning, T Shaw (wicket-keeper) and J Blain (captain)
FoW: 1-92, 2-96
Bowling: A Shaw 6-1-27-0, J Hawley 5-0-28-0, R Moore 9-3-40-1, J Fawcett 9-1-40-1, C Williamson 4-0-20-0, D Hurst 1-1-0-0
Umpires: Mr D Sharp and Mr I Dixon. Scorers: Mr HD Galley and Mr J Lofthouse