1st XI
Table topping Embsay 1st XI entertained Markington ……and lost by 26 runs.
We were without three players who were away celebrating Eid. They won the toss and batted first. They lost a quick wicket, then enjoyed partnerships of 83 and 61 to get them to 153-3. Here the tide turned in our favour as we reduced them to 176-8. Sadly, they added and undefeated 25 for the ninth wicket to leave them on 201-8. Jack Kitching 3-28, Sam Keane 3-44 and Sam Keane 2-55 were the successful bowlers.
In our reply we also lost a quick wicket, recovered to 63-2 then stumbled to 78-4. A partnership of 65 by Jack, 75, and Tom Robinson saw us to 143-5. Sadly, overs were running out. Tom made 32no and Harry Ayrton 18no as we closed on 175-5.
We get 9 batting and bowling bonus points which keeps us 14 points clear of Thirsk 2nd.
2nd XI
We travelled to Scotton to take on Knaresborough Forest 3rds. Winning the toss we asked them to go first. The lost a wicket in the first over and then four more getting to 38. Their number 5 batsman hung around for quite a bit. Our next success was at 84 and the last four wickets got them to 103 in the 39th over. Paul Wormald took 3-21 – no sign of the magic ball this week – Leighton Meeking playing for the first time this season 3-26 Adam Harding 2-10 and Gareth Wooler 2-14. 13-year-old Thomas Mountain claimed four victims behind the stumps. All in all, the fielding was excellent this time. They opened with two bowlers who were quicker than anybody we had faced up to now. We were 15-2 after 4 overs. The two batters battled away and it wasn’t until the 13th over that we broke free. It was in the 24th over that we reached the winning post by 8 wickets. Gareth made 57no and Adam 23no in a partnership of 90.
We remain 22 points clear of Pannal 3rd.
Two Counties Senior Tour sees unbeaten four year run ended.
After a two-year break to accommodate that weird and wonderful Covid thingamy, the Two Counties Seniors finally got their show on the road in Embsay on Monday July 3rd.
In near Arctic weather conditions, something their Seniors are certainly unaccustomed to, our batting line-up chose to display their lack of talents first, and boy oh boy, did they struggle. Thankfully they did have a saviour, and it wasn’t the weather, but Nick Meakin. His 70, aided by an extremely stoic undefeated 33 from virgin tourist, Trevor Money, save them from total humiliation on a ground on which they had not lost since 2017. The pair took the score from 53-5 from 19 overs to 139 from 36 before Nick decided, unwisely, to give the bowler some catching practise. Another tour virgin, Ken Greenaway, then came to the crease, but whilst they were thinking 140 all out, the pair had different ideas and by simply closing their eyes and swinging, they took us to a respectable 170-6 from our allocation of 40 overs. Scott Robinson took 2-11 off 8 overs, and there were wickets for Dave Daggett (U Wharfedale) Simon Holt, Neil Robinson, Paul Wormald and Wally Robertson.
Now it was the turn of the home team to show them how it should be done, and we did. They kept the scoring rate absolutely on point, and eased themselves through to 174-6 with an over or so to spare. Scott Robinson top scored with 41, Wally made 38, Neil 34no, Duncan Bullough 20 and the ageless Brian Hodgson 18. Pick of their bowlers, was Chris Hills, who returned 1-11 from his seven overs, four of which were maidens.
Two Counties Seniors 170-6 (Meakin 70, Money 33no) Embsay over 50s 174-6 (S.Robinson 41, N.Robinson 34no, Robertson 33)
Under 11’s
The under 11s played their penultimate game down at Sutton. We batted first and scored 257-6 in our 20 overs which gave us a net score of 257. Henry Pighills top scored with19, Charlie Bean made 16, skipper Jack Lovell 13, Hugo Brook-Eddison 11 and Billy Collins 10.That they were in the hunt at the end was down to a fine knock of 26 by Stanley Kitching, the only person to score double figures. They finished on 237-2 which equates to 237. Billy Collins and Jacob Baker were the two bowlers who took wickets. For a couple of days, we were at the top of the table. We are guaranteed a top three finish.
Fixtures
The 1st XI are away to Goldsborough 2nd.
This Saturday the 2nd XI entertain Bishop Monkton 2nds with the match ball sponsored by John Mason Printers.
The Under 11’s last game is on Thursday evening when we are away to Barnoldswick u11s. Next Sunday we have a game between all the players, plus a presentation of awards and medals to the players.
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman
