Sayers' century sees Yorkshire XI win benefit match

A CLASSY century by opening bat Joe Sayers helped to ease a talented young Yorkshire XI to victory at Tickhill in the Benefit Match to raise funds for the Yorkshire Academy.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Aug 2007, 11:25 BST
Updated 31st Aug 2007, 15:37 BST

The Yorkshire team included several of their young rising stars and they proved too strong for the home team who, given a 150 runs start, reached 328-9, Sam Illsley top scoring with a fine 48. Steve Ramshaw contributed 30 and Ashley Fidler chipped in with 24.

England Under-19 international Adil Rashid, a first team regular this season, took a couple of wickets whilst fellow leg spinner Mark Lawson grabbed three.

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All-rounder Richard Pyrah, left arm spinner David Wainwright, and pace bowlers Steve Patterson and Ajmal Shahzad collected one apiece. Opening bowler Deon Kruis, who has missed several games with a hamstring problem, returned to action but withdrew from the attack early on in the match.

The opening pair of Sayers and captain Andrew Gale, with a quickfire 59, got Yorkshire off to a blistering start and Sayers ended with a superb 113 well backed by Pyrah, who blasted 70, and England U19 batsman Adam Lyth, 39.

Yorkshire got home for the loss of five wickets with 10 overs to spare and Academy funds were boosted by an auction of signed shirts and bats.

n Meanwhile, the Aussies were put to the sword in Sheffield in the mini-Ashes veterans clash at Bawtry Road. The Australians have an over-60s side on tour here and stopped off in Sheffield for their only game up North, facing a Sheffield League side comprising players aged over 60.

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The Aussies came out second best, making 125-9 in their 40 overs with Frank Coleman taking 3-17 and Roy Simpson - at 74, Sheffield’s oldest player - taking 2-17 from his eight over allocation.

It proved no problem for the Sheffield League with Gordon Davies, 52 (retired) and Stuart Bray, 46, putting on a second wicket stand that made big inroads into their target and they reached 126-5 in the 31st over.

“They were a great bunch of blokes but I think we had the edge on them in fitness,” noted Sheffield United’s David Bingley, 71, who was Sheffield League wicketkeeper.

“We weren’t quite sure what to expect from them but if you beat any Australian side at cricket then I think it gives a certain amount of satisfaction.”

Related topics:YorkshireTickhill