Cricket returned to Shires Lane on a sunny but blustery afternoon.
The new era at Shires Lane got off to a positive start with both sides winning.
The 1st XI, at home to Rainton, scored 208 batting first with skipper Morgan Davies making a stylish 57, Sam Arkwright 39 and Haroon Ali 29. In addition, there were 32 extras.
The visitors never got into their stride and were held to 125-8 off 40 overs. With the points system used in the Nidderdale League, their ninth wicket pair denied us 1 bonus bowling point. Overall, we scored 19 pts and they scored 6 pts.
In our bowling Jack Kitching was in good form and finished with 4-16 in his allotted 10 overs. 15-year-old Hammaad Hussain, promoted from the second team for this year claimed 3-25 off 7 overs.
The 2nd XI travelled to Rainton, a village just the other side of Ripon near to Topcliffe. They won the toss and asked us to go first and at 34-3 we struggling to make progress. Then 15-year-old Adam Harding ,28, and 13-year-old Ollie Riley-Ratcliffe who finished on 57 helped us to recover to 143-5 in our 40 overs. 28 extras also helped our cause. Ollie had only just returned that morning from Barbados where he played in a cricket competition scoring 47no in the final to help his side lift the trophy. From Kensington Oval, Bridgetown to Carr Lane, Rainton!!!!!
Our youngsters came to the fore when opening the bowling – Ollie had 0-16 and Adam 0-6 after 5 overs each. Things progressed in a genteel manner and at the halfway point they were 44-2. Their skipper, Brian Weighton, decided enough was enough, and hit some hefty blows. Fortunately, wickets kept falling at the other end. He had reached 68 (9×4, 3×6) when Ollie bowled him with a beautiful slower ball – 122=6, 5 overs to go. They nibbled away, lost 2 wickets to run outs and reached the last over needing 12 to win. Skipper Paul Wormald managed to keep things fairly tight, although 4 byes of the first ball started hearts fluttering. They fell two runs short and we had 17 pts to their 6 pts.
Next Saturday sees the 1st XI away to Sessay 3rds and the 2nd XI at home to Pannal 3rds with the match ball kindly sponsored by The Cavendish Arms.
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman
