SECOND XI REPORT: Two wickets for Birkman on opening day of delayed Roses clash
There were mixed fortunes on the opening day of this Second Eleven Championship Roses clash for both sides when play got underway after lunch with Yorkshire reaching 227 for four by the close after being put in to bat.
Three of the visitor’s top four batters made good starts but none failed to build on that sufficiently to reach fifty, although Jawad Akhtar will have the opportunity to do just that tomorrow after finishing unbeaten on 46.
After rain and the damp conditions meant the morning session was lost, Lancashire made a great start when Noah Kelly edged Josh Boyden to Hassan Mughal at second slip without scoring.
White Rose skipper Yash Vagadia and Will Bennison fought back to add 60 for the second wicket before Harry Birkman found lift and movement to have Vagadia caught behind for 40.
After making 43 off 66 balls Bennison played a rash pull shot to be bowled by Charlie Barnard just before tea with Yorkshire 110 for three at the break and one further wicket fell in the final session.
Harry Duke had flicked Birkman for six over backward square leg to go with his seven fours but bowler had his revenge when enticing Duke on 49 to drive at a pitch up delivery that found an edge that carried through to wicketkeeper George Lavelle.
Akhtar and Jordan Thompson (30 not out) settled in to produce the best partnership of the day and steer Yorkshire into a much better position by adding 69 runs across 26 overs by the close.
Teams
Lancashire: Harry Singh, Kesh Fonseka, George Lavelle (wkt), Arav Shetty, Jack Blatherwick (capt), Josh Boyden, Charlie Barnard, Joe Chapple, Henry Murray, Harry Birkman, Dominic Hayes, Hassan Mughal.
Yorkshire: Yash Vagadia (capt), Noah Kelly, Will Bennison, Harry Duke (wkt), Jawad Akhtar, Josh Hoyle, Jordan Thompson, Jafer Chohan, Chinmay Mullapudi, Brad Sylvester, Matt Milnes, Joe Davies.