York’s Antipodean ace primed to annihilate league records

9:37am Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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DAN is the man for York Cricket Club as willow-wielding Australian Dan Wilson threatens to re-write the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB Premier League record books.

Two centuries in the space of 24 hours has seen Wilson waltz his way to the fastest ever gathering of 1,000 runs in League history, said Oxbridge League records secretary Steve Ward.

“As far as I know, Dan is the quickest to a 1,000 runs that the League has ever seen,” enthused Ward, who also predicted that – given decent weather – York’s wizard of Oz would wallop past the League’s highest aggregate record of 1,421 runs collated by Castleford batsman Andrew Bourke during the summer of 2003.

“What Dan has done for the League is brilliant,” added Ward.

“The League wants to promote quality cricket from quality cricketers, either overseas or home-grown, and that is what Dan is doing. All his efforts strengthen the reputation of the League.”

After smiting 112 off 60 balls against Appleby Frodingham, Wilson and fellow opener Duncan Snell seized on skipper Marcus Wood’s decision to bat first against Hull YPI at Clifton Park.

They again produced a century partnership, putting on 156 before Snell was caught. Wilson went on to claim his second successive ton to smash through the 1,000-runs barrier.

Unlike the previous 24 hours, whirlwind Wilson’s wizardry failed to yield a maximum return as the Clifton Parkers could only post an incomplete triumph.

After Snell’s exit, Wilson and Simon Mason added 48 runs in only six overs before the Australian fell for 106, including 13 fours and three sixes.

Alex Collins, Nick Kay and Simon Mason all made contributions and, with the aid of 27 extras, York’s final total of 289-4 was a formidable one for Hull to chase.

Hull were given a sound start by openers Andy Simpson and Tim Appleyard, 49 runs coming off 11 overs.

Alex Renton came on to dismiss Appleyard in his first over and Tim Dimaline was run out for a single to bring in James Hodgson. He and Simpson added 134 in 89 minutes before the latter gave a return catch to Wilson three runs shy of his century. Man of the match Wilson also bagged four wickets.

With three overs to go, 55 runs were still needed, so Hull had no other option but to shut up shop, thereby limiting York to six points.

York: D Wilson c Wilkinson b Sergeant 106, D Snell c Dimaline b Hodgson 71, S Mason b Hodgson 26, A Collins no 31, N Kay c Page b Sergeant 25, T Bartram not out 3; extras 27; total 289 for 4 (55 overs).

Bowling: S Sergeant 13-0-65-2; U Mansoor 6-0-19-0; A Page 9-0-40-0; J Hodgson 17-1-88-2; A Boasman 6-0-30-0; A Simpson 4-0-22-0.

Hull YPI: A Simpson c & b Wilson 97, T Appleyard b Renton 23, T Dimaline run out 1, J Hodgson c Kay b Wilson 58, D Wilkinson run out 6, A Kirby b Wilson 7, B Kirby c Durham b Renton 0, S Sergeant c Kay b Renton 12, A Boasman no 15, A Page c Collins b Wilson 6, U Mansoor no 0; extras 11; total 236 for 9 (55 overs).

Bowling: T Bartram 6-1-29-0; N Laidlaw 5-1-20-0; A Renton 21-1-80-3; N Kay 8-1-35-0; D Wilson 14-0-66-4; D Snell 1-1-0-0.