Anthony McGrath, above, and Oliver Hannon-Dalby were the chief wicket-takers as Yorkshire swept to their first Second Eleven Championship victory in two years – beating MCC Universities by 181 runs over three days at York CC.

Hannon-Dalby took 4-43 to add to his first-innings 4-21, and McGrath 3-25 to add to his first-innings 2-10 and 78 in Yorkshire’s second innings. Yorkshire had declared their first innings at 304-8 and their second at 208-7, in the meantime putting out MCC Universities for 129, and so setting the Universities a victory target of 384 in a minimum of 96 overs on the last day.

It was not plain sailing. MCC openers Ben Ackland and Nitesh Patel batted through the morning in an unflustered stand which had reached 83 when they came in for lunch.

The break obviously invigorated the bowlers, as within his first five overs of the afternoon Hannon-Dalby took 4-13, with two maidens. After that burst it was a case of winkling out the others. Steven Cheetham picked up two to reduce the students to 140-6, but the last four batsmen took the game well into the final session - although not the last hour.

Left-hand spinner Gurman Randhawa probed away, and gained his reward when he bowled the obdurate Harris for 29. Gurman then took a catch that went from bat to the knee of short-leg George Ross…up and over...and finally into Randhawa`s outstretched hands.  Evergreen McGrath put the final nail in the Universities’ coffin with a spell of 3-11 in 32 balls.

Paceman Ryan Sidebottom began his journey back to full fitness, sending down nine overs in the first innings and 12 more in two spells in the second: we saw a little more zip and the occasional grope by batsmen playing at the spot where they thought the ball was. Ryan had probably warmed up for the day’s work with a quick game of football in the outfield with his very young daughter.

Yorkshire take the maximum of 24 points from this encounter and MCC Universities three.

Day 2: Yorkshire finished in the strongest possible position after Oliver Hannon-Dalby had weighed in with 4-21, and Anthony McGrath had run into form with 78 when the “visitors” batted again.

The White Rose had declared their first innings at 304-8, and had MCC Universities 8-2 overnight. They bowled them out for 129 yesterday, and had reached 208-7 in their second innings by the close – a lead of 383 with a minimum of 96 overs available.

If Yorkshire declare overnight they should have enough time to secure their first Championship win since July 2010 when they beat MCC Young Cricketers at Radlett.

Day 2 began well for Yorkshire, as they took wickets at regular intervals to leave the Universities tottering on 84-8 at lunch. They battled on to 129 to finish 175 runs adrift, thanks to pacemen Hannon-Dalby and Steven Cheetham, who took 3-37.

Oliver`s 14 overs included 10 maidens and was, without doubt, his most consistent and penetrative performance of the season. McGrath chipped in with two more scalps, and Ben Coad took his first Second Eleven wicket in a very tidy spell of 6-2-13-1.

Yorkshire declined to enforce the follow-on, and so began the remaining 60 overs of the day effectively at 175-0. They could afford to take up these overs - and duly did so in a slightly turgid display that never reached a run-rate of three runs an over until the last half hour when George Ross and  Ryan Gibson scampered some tight singles and twos.

 McGrath’s 78 came from 141 deliveries with 10 fours and four sixes.

We wait with quiet confidence for the dawn and, hopefully, a successful conclusion to a game Yorkshire have dominated.

Day 1: A magnificent stand of 138 for the eighth wicket between Ryan Gibson and Ryan Sidebottom pulled Yorkshire round from a worrying 154-7 in their first innings.

Yorkshire advanced to 304-8 before declaring – and then struck quick blows to leave the Universities 8-2 at the close.Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat in what is listed as a three-day away fixture for the county.

Alex Lees and skipper Joe Sayers walked out to open at a sunny Clifton Park – but the “visitors” were soon 19-2 with both Sayers and Anthony McGrath back in the pavilion. A good third-wicket stand of 97 between Lees and Dan Hodgson ended when Lees was trapped in front for 50 on the stroke of lunch.

Hodgson fell for 60 after the break, and in a dreadful period George Ross, Eddie Wilson and Gurman Randhawa quickly followed. Four wickets for 17 runs, and this was when Gibson and Sidebottom came to the rescue: Gibson smacked 88 runs off 101 balls with 11 fours and three sixes, and Sidebottom was undefeated on 55 from 111 balls with eight fours when Yorkshire came in with full batting points and a 300 total for the third consecutive time.

And probably a record eighth-wicket stand for a pair of Yorkshire Ryans !

MCC Universities were left with a tricky six overs to negotiate  before the late close - but they did not: they lost Ackland to a deft catch by Hodgson off Oliver Hannon-Dalby, and a straight and quick one from Steven Cheetham was too much for nightwatchman Harris. 8-2…and the forecast is good for the rest of the week.

I would like to take this opportunity of informing all readers of these webpages  that an extra Second Eleven friendly game has been organised for August 28-30, when Yorkshire will take on Nottinghamshire at Weetwood under Second Eleven Championship regulations. Play will begin at 11am each day.

Do not forget that on match days the Second Eleven scores are available 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