Dolly impresses on County debut (From Worcester News)

Dolly impresses on County debut

7:39pm Monday 29th August 2011 in Match Reports By Michael Reeves, twitter.com/michaelreevesWN

BRETT D’Oliveira made history at Heading-ley in Worcestershire Royals’ Clydesdale Bank 40 dead-rubber with Yorkshire.

The 19-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder became the first third generation player to make his debut for the New Road side following in the footsteps of his father Damian and his legendary grandfather Basil.

The youngster, who penned his first professional contract with the County last week, showed few signs of nerves against the Tykes in his senior bow.

Although the teenager didn’t get a chance to bat, he bowled well, picking up the wicket of Joe Root, and looked sharp in the field, taking the catch which dismissed Jonathan Bairstow as the Royals fell to a six-wicket defeat.

Ever since Basil arrived in England in 1964, a D’Oliveira has been associated with the County — Damian making his senior bow in 1982 with one of the duo being involved in all five of Worcestershire’s Championship title successes.

But Brett came into a developing Worcestershire side looking to end their CB40 campaign with a victory.

Both the Royals and Yorkshire knew that they would finish bottom and second-from-bottom in Group ‘A’ respectively before the start of this match.

Having been asked to bat by stand-in Yorkshire skipper Joe Sayers, Moeen Ali and Jack Manuel got the Royals off to a fine start with 55 coming off the opening eight overs.

But a change of bowling for Yorkshire saw the hosts make the breakthrough as Moeen went fishing outside his off-stump to Moin Ashraf’s second ball of the game and he was caught behind for 26. Once Manuel fell shortly after for 32, Worcestershire were reined in by a tidy spell of spin bowling from David Wainwright (2-32).

The Yorkshire left-armer accounted for James Cameron and Aneesh Kapil before captain Daryl Mitchell played his usual busy innings, rotating the strike as often as he could to record a 65-ball 50.

Worcestershire finished their 40 overs strongly with 49 coming off the final four with the skipper unbeaten on 81 as the Royals closed on 230-6.

Yorkshire made a steady start to their reply after a short rain break delayed their innings.

But it was Nick Harrison who made the breakthrough in the sixth over as he dismissed Sayers for 10 before the 19-year-old accounted for fellow opener Adam Lyth four overs later for 33 to leave the hosts 51-2.

However, Bairstow hit a 46-ball 50, which included four fours and two sixes, to put Yorkshire on course for victory as he shared a third-wicket stand with Root of 122.

Their stand was brought to an end by Kapil as England Lion Bairstow picked out D’Oliveira at backward point for 80 and then the 19-year-old debutant dismissed Root for 62.

Gary Ballance hit a winning six with 11 balls to spare.