A second century of the Second Eleven season for Gary Ballance, pictured, helped Yorkshire to 231-2 in their 40-over Trophy match at Headingley Carnegie – but victors Nottinghamshire timed their scoring rate to perfection at the cost of more wickets.

Ballance struck nine fours and five sixes before he was caught in the last of Yorkshire’s 40 overs with 129 to his name - aided and abetted by Calum Geldart in an opening stand of 147 before Geldart was bowled for 65. It was a solid basis for the innings, and cameos from Alex Lees and Lee Hodgson followed.

It is a new experience for the Second Elevens, and it was difficult to judge what score to set, batting first. The visitors had their own answers: they lost six wickets at regular intervals, but they paced the chase so that with seven balls left they passed the target. Fifties from Akhil Patel and Scott Elstone were the best of Nottinghamshire’s batting, and Yorkshire left-arm spinner David Wainwright was the pick of the bowlers.

Was the lesson learnedt? We have a fortnight to the next Trophy match, with Warwickshire the hosts at Knowle and Dorridge Cricket Club, a ground never before visited by Yorkshire.

Will Nottinghamshire meet their match when they provide the opposition for the opening Second Eleven Championship match at Barnsley’s Shaw Lane ground, the nursery in the past of so many Yorkshire greats?

Words and Statistics: MICHAEL SNOOK