Leaning's Ton

By Gary Watton
April 22 2015

The big clash with Nottinghamshire at a sun-baked Trent Bridge may have petered out into a draw, but it was a good news story for Yorkshire. After twelve months of a few near-misses, the talented Jack Leaning finally converted his maiden first-class century. One would hope that he can really kick on from here. Earlier, our equally promising batsman, Alex Lees, continued his fine early-season form with a ton of his own, while it was encouraging to see Mr Pujara chip in with a commendable half century.

Ironically in the home team's second innings, the only one of the nine players who failed to reach double figures was none other than Alex Hales who had smashed a career-best of 236 in the first innings, so he can be forgiven his failure second time around. Perhaps his heroics highlighted the absence of England internationals Plunkett, Rashid, and Sidebottom. C'est la vie. Oh well. Yorkshire still occupy second position in the league table already, in spite of incurring a multitude of absences.

The positives from the three aforementioned batsmen are necessary to compensate for the bad news that Ryan Sidebottom and Aaron Finch will be sidelined for six weeks and approximately twelve weeks respectively. Meanwhile, there seems to be some kind of conspiracy to keep half a dozen Yorkshire cricketers in the Caribbean, while providing only two of them with any actual cricket. That's called 'taking the urine', or words to that effect. Well, the Tykes will have to soldier on with a sorely depleted squad for the third consecutive week as they prepare to do battle, this time at home, against the troops of Warwickshire. We have an impressive record against the Brummie bunch from the last couple of seasons, but they are a considerable challenge, when we are having to draw upon so much reserve strength.

Nottinghamshire versus YORKSHIRE; at Nottingham; Sunday the 19th to Wednesday the 22nd of April. Nottinghamshire won the toss.

Nottinghamshire first innings: 428 (Hales 236, Taylor.J 59; Patterson 3-78, Brooks 3-99)

YORKSHIRE first innings: 441 (Leaning 116, Lees 100, Pujara 57; Patel 4-102, Gurney 3-90)

Nottinghamshire second innings: 354 for seven declared (Read 83*, Patel 76)

Match drawn. Nottinghamshire 11 points; YORKSHIRE 11 points.

Lees - Three catches followed by a four and a half hour century represented a fine performance from Alex. He has filled the void left by the absent Adam Lyth.

Rhodes - Three wickets at a cost of seventy runs was commendable, as indeed was his innings of forty-one runs. Rhodes is a great all-rounder in the making.

Pujara - The Indian maestro compensated for his first-match duck with a decent half century, that included nine fours. Let's hope for more of the same, please.

Gale - In a mirror reflection of twelve months ago, Gale has made a sluggish start to his campaign, producing an inadequate thirteen runs on this occasion.

Leaning - He took two catches and then weighed in with his career-best innings which boasted 12 fours and one six. His bowling however was much less effective.

Pyrah - Rich weighed in with a useful 37 from exactly two hours at the crease. He only bowled in the first innings, during which his seven overs cost 26 runs.

Hodd - Andy failed with the bat, after an all-too-brief contribution of six. He atoned somewhat for this by taking four catches in their second innings.

Bresnan - Tim underlined his all-rounder status with an innings of 34. However, this was not one of his best bowling efforts, as his three wickets cost 162 runs.

Patterson - Comfortably Yorkshire's most consistent bowler, Steve obtained four wickets at a cost of 110 runs. He remained as accurate and economical as ever.

Brooks - The headband warrior also took four wickets, but he also conceded 166 runs in the process. Jack will never compromise in his efforts to take wickets.

Fisher - Young Matt took two wickets at a cost of 102 runs in his County Championship debut. His fine second-innings bowling effort was a sign of greatness ahead.