Runs after the rain.

After the first day of Yorkshire's game with Loughborough University was ruined by rain our young batsmen got a chance to shine on day two.

Captain Andrew Gale opened the innings and despite losing fellow opener Matthew Wood for 23 continued onto a respectable 68 before getting out. He hit 10 fours and two sixes and has certainly cemented the next-in-line spot ahead of Wood who has started the season poorly. Gale has played in Yorkshire's one day matches and was even made skipper for this game ahead of his opening partner despite the latter being Yorkshire's vice captain only a few years ago.

Young Adam Lyth came in at number 3 and looked assured for his 39 ball 31 before being trapped lbw by Parsons. Lyth has been touted as the brightest batting prospect at the club and will be hoping for some big scores in the 2nd XI this year.

The big runs however in Yorkshire's innings came from the middle order with all rounders Richard Pyrah and Chris Gilbert putting on 92 runs. Gilbert was the stroke maker motoring along at a run a ball. He smashed 64 off only 66 deliveries five of which were despatched to the boundary and another two clearing it altogether. Gilbert has emerged as a genuine first team contender and seems to have responded well after being given his county cap by Darren Gough in pre season. This correspondent hopes he will get more chances in the one day games than he is currently.

Richard Pyrah followed a couple of good Friends Provident performances by completing an accomplished century. The Dewsbury born right-hander has showed promise as he's moved up through the Yorkshire ranks but needs to make the step up this season and is responding well with both bat and ball. Pyrah saw the wickets fall of both Gilbert and wicketkeeper Simon Guy who was caught and bowled by Spriegel for 37. When Pyrah was out for 106 he left the field with Yorkshire 367 for 6.

He received some solid resistance from slow left arm bowler David Wainwright. The former Loughborough student was 46 not out when Yorkshire declared their innings at stumps. He is yet another of Yorkshire's promising spinners to emerge from the academy. He finished the day alongside Mark Lawson on 4.

Yorkshire will have some trouble in keeping three young spinners happy if Lawson and Wainwright progress as Adil Rashid has done. It's a nice problem to have but one which will still have to be resolved. Rashid's meteoric rise looks like it will result in him breaching the England squad within twelve months leaving space for Lawson and Wainwright to battle for the spinner's berth. Rashid's batting has made him easy to select and it could be this which will be the determining factor on who becomes his long term successor. Lawson has shown he has the potency to take wickets once the heat of summer is in full swing but should he fail with the bat his place will be under pressure.

Yorkshire's table topping form has coincided with the lack of any noticeable tail to the batting line up. Rashid is an all rounder, Gerard Brophy has realised he actually can bat and both Gillespie and Bresnan have hit first class centuries this season. Even Hoggard has racked up a half century as night watchman. Wainwright seems to offer some lower order run scoring and whether this gets him a chance ahead of of leg-spinner Lawson time will tell.

After a good day with the bat and some encouraging performances it's time for the bowlers to put the students to the sword. As stated in the previous post it is Yorkshire's fast bowling than needs bolstering. Let's hope Shahzad, Thornicroft and Patterson can oblige. However if Pyrah, Gilbert and Wainwright share the wickets they will have given Goughie and Moxon some real options for the forthcoming one day matches.