A magnificent ninth wicket partnership between century-maker Oliver Walker and Riecko Parker-Cole was the highlight of Worcestershire Academy’s 20 run defeat against their Yorkshire counterparts at Kidderminster.
The pair came together with Worcestershire 123-8 in pursuit of Yorkshire’s 309-8 from 50 overs and proceeded to add an unbroken 166.
Walker smashed six sixes and 11 fours in his unbroken 109 from 99 balls and Parker-Cole four sixes and 10 fours in his 82 not out from 58 balls.
But their heroic effort fell just short of the finishing line as Worcestershire closed on 289-8.
Parker-Cole had earlier also claimed three wickets and finished with figures of 10-1-51-3.
There was one wicket apiece for Josh Dickenson, Jacques Banton and Rehan Edavaleth.
Matthew Ravis (110) and Tom Loten (80) added 139 for the third Yorkshire wicket.
Worcestershire lost wickets at regular intervals and were 52-5 when Walker went to the wicket and, with Parker-Cole, almost pulled off an unlikely win with some big hitting.
