Ben Cliff’s Maiden Five-For Powers Yorkshire to Opening Day Victory Over Warwickshire

Young quick Ben Cliff delivered a career-best performance with the ball, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul to set up a dominant five-wicket win for Yorkshire over Warwickshire in their opening Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Scarborough.

Playing his first first-team game since recovering from a side injury, the 22-year-old seamer ripped through Warwickshire’s top order in a fiery opening spell, returning figures of 5 for 46 in 8.3 overs as the visitors were bundled out for just 137 in under 37 overs. Yorkshire chased the modest target with 17.1 overs to spare, anchored by a composed 55 from Pakistani international Imam-ul-Haq.

Cliff’s Devastation with the New Ball

Inserted on a tricky pitch, Warwickshire crumbled to 38 for 7 inside the first 14 overs, with Cliff striking four times in his initial burst. He removed Rob Yates and Zen Malik within three deliveries in just his second over, both caught at cover by James Wharton.

His new-ball partner Jack White dismissed Warwickshire captain Ed Barnard with a delivery that clipped the off stump, before Cliff struck again to remove Hamza Shaikh (caught by Adam Lyth at slip) and Kai Smith (caught at backward point), leaving the Bears reeling at 24 for 5.

Matthew Revis then joined the action, dismissing Alex Davies and Jake Lintott in quick succession, with Lyth claiming both catches at slip — taking his total to a record-equalling four outfield catches in a List A innings for the club.

Jani Fights a Lone Battle

Amid the carnage, 20-year-old Vaansh Jani stood tall, producing a superb counterattacking innings from No. 7. In just his second first-team match, Jani struck 82 off 92 balls — his maiden List A fifty — including six boundaries and five towering sixes. His 67-ball half-century helped Warwickshire avoid complete humiliation.

Jani shared a record 10th-wicket stand of 64 with Oliver Hannon-Dalby, the latter contributing just a single run. Jani’s innings finally ended when he miscued Cliff to mid-on, as Warwickshire were bowled out for 137.

Imam Steadies Yorkshire’s Chase

Yorkshire’s reply wasn’t entirely smooth on a pitch offering assistance to the seamers. Imam-ul-Haq held the innings together with a steady 55 from 83 balls, striking his first five scoring shots as boundaries.

The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals — including Lyth, Luxton, Wharton, and Revis — with Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Ethan Bamber, and Michael Booth sharing the spoils. Booth took 3 for 30, including two wickets in two balls, to briefly spark Warwickshire hopes with Yorkshire wobbling at 72 for 4.

However, Imam found a reliable partner in George Hill (20*), and the pair added a calm 56-run stand to take Yorkshire to the brink of victory. Imam fell with just 10 runs needed, but Yorkshire wrapped up the win with ease, completing the chase with more than 17 overs in hand.