YCs beat Minor Counties U25s

Date released: 20 May 2009

MCC YCs took on Minor Counties U25 on Friday at Radlett CC in a 50 over game. The weather forecast was unsettled throughout the day and thankfully the rain stayed away in time to see the YCs bat first.

The opening pair of Ian Cockbain and Michael Bracewell were soon dislodged with Bracewell being trapped in front by Syddall for four in the third over.

Ian Cockbain: Mixed aggression and defence Gary Brown and Cockbain steadied the ship against some tight bowling until Brown flicked a full toss straight to square leg to leave the YCs on 42-2 off 12 overs.

Cockbain and Michael Richardson picked up the tempo mixing some aggressive boundaries with tight defence to lift the score to 94-2 off 25 overs.

The introduction of right-arm off spin from both ends gave the Minor Counties the opportunity to stifle the scoring rate in addition to steadily chipping away with wickets.

Richardson was stumped for 35, and Cockbain was caught at deep cover moments after completing his half century.

The use of the batting powerplay failed to spark much progress in the scoring rate and through the 9th wicket stand of 35 between Adam Miles and Jonathan Miles, the YCs managed to just pass 200 and finished their 50 overs with a score of 201-8.

Worst possible start

The Minor Counties reply got off to the worst possible start with Jonathan Miles dismissing the opening bat off the very first ball.

Mitchell Stokes (ex-Hampshire) played some adventurous shots in making a quick-fire 28 but he mis-timed an attempted swipe across the line and was well caught by Richardson off the bowling of Clarke (8-0-28-2), who chipped in again with another wicket to leave the Minor Counties at 54-3 off 14 overs.

Guarav Dhar: "Excellent spell of leg spin bowling" A fourth wicket partnership of 40 was broken with a wicket in Gaurav Dhar's first over, and with this the YCs began to tighten their grip on the game.

Dhar completed his quota of 10 overs, bowling continusouly and bowled excellently to finish with figures of 10-2-24-4.

It was indeed an excellent spell of leg spin bowling and he was able to continue to attack the middle order with help coming at the other end from Glenn Querl (7-1-31-1), and Brown (5-0-25-2).

The Minor Counties were eventually dismissed in the 41st over for 157. The YCs ended up winning the game by 48 runs; an excellent performance on what was a good wicket.

The YCs now turn their attention to fixtures at Radlett CC against Glamorgan CCC in the Second Eleven Championship and Second Eleven Trophy competitions.

The YCs won this fixture last season and they hope to continue their run of good form into this week before they embark on a four week break for the ICC World Twenty20.