PCA Masters v Yorkshire Academy
With the Sheffield flood waters receding and the M1 motorway reopened after torrential rain, the annual fixture took place between a PCA Masters XI and the Yorkshire Academy last Thursday at Abbeydale Sports Club.
On winning the toss on a damp pitch, Masters captain, Gladstone Small, invited the youngsters to bat first, hoping the testing conditions may provide some early assistance for the bowlers.
The opening batting pair of Adam Lyth and Joe Root were soon into their stride, showing little respect for the Masters new-ball pairing of former England paceman Devon Malcolm and county swing bowler Paul Hutchison. Lyth, an attacking left-handed stroke player was particularly impressive, driving straight down the ground and quick to pull anything slightly short. After making a breezy 47 from only 22 balls Lyth skied a hoick - straight back over the bowler’s head. Gladstone Small, hastily adjusting his sunglasses in dazzling conditions, was grateful that the ball stuck in his outstretched palms.
Joe Root, a 16 year old local from the home club at Abbeydale, was content to bat steadily and assuredly collecting his runs with nudges and tucks into gaps. Having top-edged an attempted hook from Malcolm for four and copping a bit of gentle verbal from the disgruntled bowler, the youngster showed he had some bottle as another Malcolm bouncer the following over was dispatched to the square leg boundary. Root was eventually dismissed for 60 runs from 94 balls as the gentle medium-slows of Small and Bilal Shafayat and the off-spin of Batty and Metcalfe slowed the run rate down from the express start the youngsters had made. Some lusty strokeplay from Morgan (43 from 42 balls) and Lawson (27 from 15 balls) saw Yorkshire Academy reach 226 for 8 from their 40 overs.
Shafayat was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 35 from his 8 overs, and Batty was equally as effective taking 2 for 25 on the slow surface which offered some assistance to his off breaks
A total of 226 was never going to be an easy chase, but a bright start from Sherwin Campbell and Jason Gallian saw the Masters up with the required rate from the outset. They both pounced on any deliveries that were either short or full with Gallian driving impressively. The opening partnership was worth 39 from seven overs when Campbell swung across the line of a straight one from the steady Chadwick to be out leg before. Norton replaced the expensive Acheson and his tight bowling induced the well set Gallian into playing a bit early and lofting a drive into the safe hands of Wood at backward point. Simon Kellet soon lost his off stump trying to hit Sanderson out of the ground to keep up with the scoring rate
Sadly, the early afternoon sunshine had now given way to threatening clouds. Light rain became too heavy, thwarting the players gallant attempts to continue and causing the match to be abandoned with the Masters well poised at 79 for 3.
The PCA would like to sincerely thank the Sheffield Cricket Lovers Society who not only arranges this match, but whose wonderful efforts through a fundraising Lunch and also a Dinner will see the proceeds raised shared between Yorkshire Air Ambulance and PCA Benevolent Fund.
PCA Masters XI v Yorkshire Academy
Jason Gallian
Sherwin Campbell
Simon Kellett
Bilal Shafayat
Ashley Metcalfe
Ismail Dawood
Gavin Hamilton
Jeremy Batty
Gladstone Small
Devon Malcolm
Paul Hutchison
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