Yorkshire sadly ended their Second Eleven season of competitive matches today when it was decided at 9.30am to abandon their Championship match against Warwickshire at Stamford Bridge.

The end came like the beginning in April - sodden conditions and no hope of playing. Yorkshire take eight points from the two days that were possible in this game and Warwickshire nine. A mid-table finish is likely.

I believe the multi-day version of this game - the Championship - is the best format in which to judge a player`s progress, and on that basis the 2012 performances of Academy players Ryan Gibson, Ed Wilson, Will Rhodes, George Ross, Josh Shaw, Graham Wiles, Jack Leaning. Mosun Hussain, Jack Leaning and Ben Coad have given cause for quiet optimism.

Add to that the rise of Moin Ashraf to regular first-team cricket and the recent promotion of Dan Hodgson as wicket-keeper for the remaining CB40 games and it can truly be claimed that Second Eleven success is not measured by results alone.

Day 2: Alex Lilley, above, began the day with three wickets, but he could not add to his tally as Warwickshire advanced to 216-6 in reply to Yorkshire's first innings 264.

Yorkshire began the day hoping to see off the rest of the Bears and secure a decent first-innings lead. Again a dropped catch in the slips upset their plans – and again the beneficiary was Laurie Evans, who went on to complete his century in what was essentially his third knock of the match. He became the third opener to register an unbeaten century against Yorkshire this season – and he was on 114 when the players left the field at 2.27pm.

A torrential downpour could be heard on the scorebox roof, and play was abandoned at 3.15pm. Paul Best, 39, is still with him Evans, and so far they have added 70 for the seventh wicket. All chances of a positive result for Yorkshire seem to have vanished - either because of their own lapses in the field or the weather.

Lilley could not repeat his heroics of the previous evening in the pre-lunch session, and his figures suffered accordingly. Gurman Randhawa came in with 2-39, but the bulk of these runs were conceded in his last two overs before lunch when Evans and Best launched a calculated assault on the slow left-armer.

I am pleased to report that after the technical troubles of Day 1 the scorecard is up to date on totalcricketscorer, so please follow the standing instructions below:

Day 1: Anthony McGrath shrugged off an attack of blurred vision to stand head and shoulders over other Yorkshire batsmen with 83. A full day`s play was enjoyed by a good crowd, and Yorkshire skipper Joe Sayers began well enough by winning the toss. Joe elected to bat - but he and opening partner Alex Lees were back in the pavilion with only 32 on the board.

McGrath had to leave the field with blurred vision - but that opened the way to a partnership of 65 between Jack Leaning and James Tattersall, who was making his Championship debut. James made a sound start with 23 in an hour and a half at the crease.

McGrath rejoined the fray once Tattersall was dismissed, and he and Leaning took the total to 159 before Leaning went for a skilful 53. McGrath simply went on, and now he was now joined by Ed Wilson, whose 32 contributed well to a fifth -wicket stand of 57.

Half the side were out for 216, but there was plenty of batting on view as Alex Lilley, who was down to come in at No.10, has a Second Eleven 50 to his credit. Yet the remaining batsmen – with McGrath`s 83 a marked exception  - failed to sparkle, and by tea Yorkshire had collapsed to 242-8 as Ryan Gibson collected his second first-baller in consecutive days and the previous day’s highest scorer, Gurman Randhawa, failed to trouble us.

A further 22 runs were added after tea, with Will Rhodes left high and dry on 19 not out. Yorkshire made only 264 when 300 looked on the cards, and only three batting points were secured, not the full four as should have been the case.

With 23 overs still to be bowled Yorkshire gave Warwickshire little leeway: Oliver Hannon-Dalby conceded only five runs in his seven overs; Steven Cheetham got rid of the dangerous Jonathan Webb, andLilley ended the day with the splendid figures of 3-12 in five overs, two of them maidens.

The only blemish was a possible chance to the slips from Laurie Evans. No one appeared to lay a hand on it, and it sailed away for four with Cheetham chuntering quietly.

Yorkshire Second Eleven have two "friendly" matches remaining before their season ends:

They play Nottinghamshire at Weetwood from August 28 to 30 and Somerset at Taunton Vale from September 4 to 7. Both matches will be played under Championship regulations, and play will start at 11am on each day. As the Somerset fixture is to played over four days only 96 overs will be bowled per day, with all sessions two hours in length.

The Second Eleven scores are available on match days via Total Cricket Live Scores. Here's how to keep up with scorer and Yorkshire County Cricket Club website correspondent HOWARD CLAYTON:

www.totalcricketscorer.co.uk

Select Live Scores
Select country as United Kingdom
Select region as Yorkshire and Club as Yorkshire

The lastest score should display! Clicking on scorecard should bring up the full scorecard.

HOWARD CLAYTON