Fresh from his 150 not out for Yorkshire Seconds last week and his 44 in Saturday’s victorious run chase against top-of-the-table York in the Solly Sports ECB Yorkshire County Premier League, Jack Leaning captained the Academy for the first time this year for the Bank Holiday match – and saw his side win by 79 runs.

Jack, pictured, himself contributed a pivotal 67 – although George Ross took the batting honours with 90. The Academy now lie fourth in the League – who would have thought that a few matches ago?

Jack began by losing the toss at Bawtry Road, and his young team were asked to bat…55 overs later he must have been pleased with his call. James McNichol and Jonathan Tattersall made good progress, putting on 51 before McNichol was caught at mid-off by Paul Cummins. Tattersall fell three runs later, caught by South Australian Nick Beneke, but the in-form Leaning and Ross then added 156 runs for the third wicket.

Leaning was patient for the first few overs before advancing to 67 in 102 balls. Ross was the quicker scorer - and looked to be heading for a century when he became one of Grant Johnson's three victims. Eddie Wilson pushed things along with an aggressive 26 in 15 balls, and the Academy came in at 254-5, an excellent total on a good wicket in blustery conditions.

Johnson's 3-19 and Saquib Hussain's 2-14 limited the Academy only slightly. Ben Coad and wicket-keeper Henry Chadwick, took the first wicket - that of Paul Cummins, the Sheffield captain. Nick Beneke batted 43 overs for his 73, but Rhodes clean bowled Percival and McNichol trapped both Qadoos and Johnson lbw - three middle-order men all gone for single figures in five overs.

Dean Smith held up the Academy for a while, but with Chadwick's help Leyshon claimed his first wicket. Leyshon’s second scalp was that of Adam Thorpe, who failed to trouble the scorers, and Tattersall, again with Chadwick's help, dispatched Zafran Ali. Ali Jahangir was the last to go. He looked capable of batting higher in the order, scoring 37 in 71 balls, but was Leyshon's third victim.

The Academy boys again took all eight points and moved up the table. They certainly have kept on improving since the start of the season.  Supporters must hope thst the improvement continues next Saturday at Castleford and in the League Cup final against Scarborough next Sunday at Weetwood. 

Words and Statistics: HAROLD GALLEY

P= Played
cw= COMPLETE WIN (8 points)
iw1= INCOMPLETE WIN 6/2 (6 points)
iw2= INCOMPLETE WIN 6/1 (6 points)
iw3= INCOMPLETE WIN 6/0 (6 points)
il1= INCOMPLETE LOSS 2 (2 points)
il2= INCOMPLETE LOSS 1 (1 points)
il3= INCOMPLETE LOSS 0 (0 points)
cl= COMPLETE LOSS (0 points)
t= Tied (4 points)
c= Cancelled no play (3 points)
a= Abandoned uncomplete (3 points)
pen = Penalty Points
nrr = Net Run Rate
pts = Total Points