AZAD HITS UNBEATEN 122 AS SECOND XI FIGHT BACK AGAINST YORKSHIRE

Nottinghamshire’s Second XI mounted an effective fightback against Yorkshire in York, opening Batsman Hassan Azad hitting an unbeaten century, while Jake Ball continued to take important wickets.

Resuming on 335-6, Yorkshire only managed to add eleven runs to their total thanks to an early charge from Jake Ball and Brett Hutton. Ball had Robinson caught by Bacon before Kelsall, at first slip, held one to dismiss Coad off Hutton. Ball claimed his five-fer, finding Ashraf’s edge, before Hutton had Leaning caught behind.

Yorkshire’s innings closed on 346 all out, Jake Ball finishing with 5-67 and Hutton 3-57. 

Hassan Azad and Sam Kelsall opened for Notts, but Kelsall departed without scoring, bowled by Wiles in the 2^nd over. Sam Wood joined Azad and the pair reached 50 in the 16^th, and by lunch the score was 65-1, Wood 43* and Azad 16*.

Wood fell victim to the near-customary wicket after lunch, caught behind for 43 off Robinson, but Azad, alongside Anuj Dal, saw Notts pass 100 in the 39^th over. Azad reached 50 in the 50^th, but eight overs later the pair’s 76-run partnership was ended after Dal was bowled by Carver for 33, Notts 148-3.

When Adam Tillcock departed for 2, it appeared Azad was running out of partners too quicky, and an over later Matt Cross left without scoring and tea was taken with Notts 151-5. Paul Franks fell victim to Leaning, and two balls later he had Graeme White caught behind to leave Notts 158-7, still 39 away from avoiding the follow on.

Azad, still battling at the crease, was joined by George Bacon and together the pair passed 250, before declaring in the 89^th over at 253-8. Azad had played masterfully, his unbeaten 122 including 17 fours and 1 six. Bacon finished 9 not out, and Jack Leaning was the pick of the Yorkshire bowlers, returning 3-28 from 11 overs.

There were five overs left in the day for Yorkshire to bat again, and their progress slowed when Jake Ball trapped Alex Lees lbw without scoring in the third. Dan Hodgson joined Eliot Callis, but only two more runs were added before play closed on 23-1.