BARNSLEY Woolley Miners won by ten wickets at Stockton in the ECB National Club Championship thanks to a superb performance from their young openers who have been backed to have big futures in the professional game.
The hosts fell from 119 for one to 172 all out with George Richardson taking three wickets.
Barnsley’s openers secured the win with teenager Owen Smith, who played for Yorkshire 2nd XI last week, smashing 99 not out off 90 balls with 12 fours and three sixes while New Zealander Jacob Cumming, 20, also carried his bat with 62.
Captain Liam Johnson said: “It’s great to see them both getting runs.
“Jacob has settled in really well.
“We’ve been impressed with him so far and it’s a really positive start.
“Smithy made his Yorkshire seconds debut last week. He didn’t get a lot of runs but looked comfortable and good.
“There is no reason he can’t break into the Yorkshire first team. He has all the tools. There are good players then some have that extra bit. Smithy is definitely one of them. I am thrilled we’ve got him.
“I was going to open this season but I didn’t play on Sunday and he’s given me a question to answer.
“I am happy to move around the order.
“He had asked to open after getting out for duck on Saturday and I love that attitude.”
The Shaw Laners had lost their season-opener the previous day at home to Cleethorpes in the Yorkshire Premier South. The Shaw Laners put on 78 for the opening wicket but were then bowled out for 146. Cleethorpes won with six wickets left in the 37th over.
Johnson said: “It was a disappointing start, there is no hiding from that.
“We were a bit rusty. They had played games before and it was our first of the season.
“Myself and Jacob got a start but didn’t go on. We lost wickets in a cluster which was a trend last season and we have to get out of it.
“Ciaran Stenton took us to 146 which we thought was competitive. We took early wickets and thought we were in the game. But it wasn’t our day. They applied themselves better than us.
“We’re bottom which is a kick in the teeth. But if we win against Whitley Hall next, we’re up and running.
“It’s important to string a few together quickly.
“I am still confident we won’t be down there this season. We don’t want to be behind the eightball. We want to be one of the front runners.”
