HUDDERSFIELD Under 13s had a resounding victory over Pontefract on the second day of the Lord’s Taverners tournament to line up a winner-takes-all game away against North Yorks.
Having earlier beaten Wetherby by two wickets at Barwick-in-Elmet (Siraj Sajid of Paddock taking three for 13 and Hall Bower’s Alex Crane scoring 23), Huddersfield then came up against Pontefract at Almondbury Wesleyans.
The home side scored freely after electing to bat on an easy-paced wicket and raced along to 71 in the first 10 overs, with Jack Cooper (Scholes) and Adam Rammell (Denby Dale) playing some excellent shots.
Unfortunately Rammell was caught out on 49 but Cooper went on to make a superb 102 and, with the help of some quick runs from the other batters, the total reached an impressive 232-5.
Pontefract were soon in trouble with Bilal Ouness removing both openers in the first four overs and with the slow bowlers, Ben Earnshaw and Joe Goddard, also in the wickets the visitors were reeling at 92-9 after some good catching and fielding by the Huddersfield lads.
Once again the best batting was saved to the end and the last pair put on 50 and, even after numerous bowling changes, could only be parted by a run out as they closed on 140.
Holmfirth High School retained the Yorkshire Schools Cup final for the second year in succession at Headingley after overcoming Easingwold in the final.
