Report: Yorkshire v Warwickshire, Royal London Cup
Warwickshire lost out to Yorkshire by 39 runs in a terrific Royal London Cup match at an elegant and well-attended Clifton Park ground in York.
The young Bears were thwarted in their bid for a third successive win but took immense credit from their thrilling pursuit of a hefty 320 for seven.
Jonny Tattersall (70, 67 balls), George Hill (64, 65) and Gary Ballance (54, 71) built a solid total for the White Rose before Matthew Waite’s violent late 42 from 16 balls turned solid into something more imposing.
The Bears then replied with 281 all out, centred upon a scintillating sixth-wicket stand of 115 in 12 overs between 17-year-old Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley, just turned 20. Bethell struck a glorious 66 (41 balls, three fours, four sixes) and Mousley a high-class 61 (46 balls, three fours, three sixes) on his List A debut as the Bears mounted a mighty challenge to the delight of their fans in a hugely appreciative 3,000 crowd.
After choosing to field, the Bears started brilliantly with George Garrett taking two wickets in the first over. Will Fraine edged the first ball to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess and William Luxton top-edged the fourth to Will Rhodes at mid-wicket.
Ballance and Harry Duke added 89 in 18 overs before the latter misjudged a single and Ed Pollock swooped, Trevor Penney-like, with the speed of a cheetah and the eye of an eagle, to run him out with a direct hit.
Ballance was beaten by a quicker ball from Dan Mousley and fell lbw but Hill and Tattersall added 110 before Hill lifted Karl Carver to Ethan Brookes at deep mid-wicket. Tattersall’s aggressive innings was ended by a calm catch by Manraj Johal off Rhodes but the Bears were hampered by the loss of Garrett who bowled seven excellent overs (two for 24) but then pulled a hamstring.
That blow proved costly for the Bears when, with Garrett off the field, it fell to Brookes to bowl the final over and Waite plundered it for three fours and three sixes.
Waite continued his happy day by removing both Bears openers. Rob Yates chipped to mid-off and Pollock (29, 31 balls), having just cranked up the chase with two leg-side sixes, was caught at third man.
Rhodes (37, 58) and Burgess (33, 59) built a promising stand of 62 in 13 overs, but it ended when a fumble from Luxton on the boundary encouraged them to go for a second and the fielder recovered to run out Rhodes with a long range direct hit. After Burgess was castled by Hill and Matt Lamb holed out, it was 134 for five.
Bethell and Mousley played with a freedom and aplomb that even drew applause from the home fans. Bethell lifted six over long off to reach 50 in 27 balls and repeated the blow to raise the century partnership from 60 balls.
After Bethell lifted Duanne Olivier to extra cover, Mousley posted his 50 from 37 balls and the Bears were still right in the game with 62 needed from seven overs. Six over long leg for Mousley in the next over kept the pot boiling but when his fine innings ended with a catch to mid-off, only the tail remained and the Bears’ bold challenge was over.
