Left-arm spinner Ben Elvidge held Yorkshire Academy's middle-order together for the second time in a fortnight as they fought Lancashire Academy to a draw in their two-day Friendly match.

DAY 1: Lancashire's decision to bat on a wicket which had only slow turn and generally suited the batsmen was wise. Ben Coad had opener Clark caught by Jack Hughes, and Elvidge ran out fellow opener Perry with a fine throw, but a fine third-wicket stand of 90 by new wicket-keeper Arunugam, 75, and Livingstone, 73, then unfolded.

Three catches by captain Alex Lees partially stemmed the flow - but it was the introduction of the three left-arm Yorkshire spinners which really slowed the scoring rate. Elvidge had the best figures 2-27, though Gurman Randhawa's 25 overs for 68 runs and Hughes's 19 overs for 41 restricted Lancashire.

Towards the end of the first day 320 seemed a score the Academy could reasonably expect to chase, and an unbeaten stand of 39 overnight by Lees and fellow opener Gorrod was a fine start.

DAY 2:  Yorkshire advanced to 74 before before both Lees, 42, and Gorrod, 22, fell in the same over to Lancashire captain Hardman. Irfan Amjad skied to square-leg with the score on 90, and Callum Geldart was deceived by Tim Bailey. Elvidge held the middle order together for the third time in two weeks, compiling 58 in 125 balls until at 208 he was a victim of medium-pacer Livingstone.

A very good partnership of 55 by wicket-keeper Tom Shaw, who struck 36 not out with six fours, and left-hander Johnny Booth, 20, pushed the total 263, and the innings closed when spinner Mo Abid captured the wicket of Ashley Robinson.

Lancashire finished with a lead of 45. A very good batting wicket made the quicker bowlers to work hard on both days, and spectators saw two well matched teams produce a good standard of cricket.

TWO-DAY FRIENDLY

Venue: Grappenhall CC

Toss won by Lancashire Academy, who elected to bat

Match drawn

Innings of Lancashire Academy: J Clark c Hughes b Coad 12, L Perry run out (Elvidge) 36, A Arunugam (wicket-keeper) c Lees b Coad 75, L Livingstone c Lees b Elvidge 73, W Chapples c Shaw b Hughes 13, T Hardman (captain) c Lees b Elvidge 28, T Bailey c and b Randhawa 6, N Caunce c and b Booth 7, M Abid not out 15, T Le Breton c Elvidge b Ashraf 18, C Connolly lbw b Robinson 5. Extras (b 20, lb 6, w 5, nb 1) 32
Total 320

FoW: 1-25, 2-67, 3-157, 4-220, 5-268, 6-269, 7-277, 8-285, 9-313, 10-320

Bowling: MA Ashraf 18-3-44-1, B Coad 13-2-32-2, C Geldart 2-0-15-0, A Robinson 4.5-0-25-1, G Randhawa 25-4-68-1, JB Hughes 19-0-41-1, J Booth 8-0-42-1, B Elvidge 10-1-27-2

Innings of Yorkshire Academy: A Lees (captain) c Arunugam b Hardman 42, A Gorrod c Abid b Hardman 22, I Amjad c Livingstone b Bailey 5, C Geldart b Bailey 25, B Elvidge b Livingstone 58, J Hughes b Abid 16, G Randhawa c and b Livingstone 1, J Booth run out (Livingstone) 20, T Shaw (wicket-keeper) not out 36, B Coad b Bailey 20, A Robinson c Hardman b Abid 2. Extras (b 8, lb 9, nb 11) 28
Total 275

FoW: 1-74, 2-74, 3-90, 4-105, 5-167, 6-168, 7-200, 8-208, 9-263, 10-275

Bowling: N Caunce 19-6-49-0, T Hardman 18-6-40-2, T Le Breton 10-4-34-0, M Abid 26.4-11-48-2, W Chapples 7-1-26-0, T Bailey 14-4-35-3, L Livingstone 10-5-26-2

Umpires: P Watmough and I Marland. Scorers: HD Galley and A Churchman

Words and Statistics: HAROLD GALLEY