SECOND XI REPORT: Duke makes unbeaten century as Yorkshire hit back at Southport
The Second XI Roses friendly is rapidly turning into a run-fest at sun kissed Southport as Yorkshire made 376-4 on the second day in reply to Lancashire’s first innings 434-8 declared yesterday.
All of the White Rose top four made half centuries with Harry Duke moving on to reach an excellent century during the final hour of the day.
Lancashire’s bowlers found the going tough as Will Luxton and Will Bennison posted a large opening partnership of 150 during the morning session.
Resuming their first innings on 33-0, both Yorkshire batters took advantage of a good pitch to reach half centuries, Luxton getting to the landmark first off 84 balls and Bennison needing 66 deliveries that included a six over midwicket off Ollie Sutton with their century partnership arriving in the 24th over.
The 150-mark was reached when Luxton swept Charlie Barnard for six, but he then drove the left-arm spinner’s following delivery to Tom Hartley at mid-off to depart for 83 as lunch approached.
Duke joined forces with Bennison to push the visitors score along steadily through the afternoon, twice pulling Barnard for six over midwicket, the second bringing up his fifty from 88 balls.
Whether the mid-afternoon drinks break brought a lapse in concentration only Bennison will know because the Yorkshire opener had looked in great form, but he hit the first ball after the break, a low full toss, straight back into the hands of the bowler Haider Hussain to depart for 93 with the visitors now 234-2.
Duke reached three figures off 193 balls while Noah Kelly went to his half century from 114 before falling lbw for 58 to George Brown just before stumps to end a 130-run stand for the third wicket.
Duke remained unbeaten on 117 but Jawad Akhtar chopped on to his stumps off Brown for 9 from the last ball of the day with Yorkshire trailing by 58 runs at the close.
TEAMS
Lancashire
George Harris, Kesh Fonseka, Harry Singh, Rocky Flintoff, Joe Moores, Tom Hartley (capt) Ollie Sutton, Charlie Barnard, Tom Walker, Charlie Parkinson, Haider Hussain, George Brown.
Yorkshire
Will Luxton (capt), Will Bennison, Yash Vagadia, Jawad Akhtar, Noah Kelly, Owen Smith, Jafer Chohan, Matthew Firbank, Harry Duke (wk), Subhaan Ali, Rizwan Ishfaq, George Lancaster.