The weekend results guarantee that both sides will be promoted.
However, we don’t want to settle for that – we want to be champions to confirm why we have been at the top of Division Four and Division Eight for most of the season.
1st XI
The 1st XI made their longest journey of the season to face South Kilvington. The weather intervened before play started – we not heard that before this season! – and it was agreed to play a 34 over per side game. They won the toss and elected to field, and we condemned to chasing leather.
They did enjoy an early success when Mo Saghir went for six with the score on 21. Skipper Morgan Davies joined Nathan Barrett and the pair put on 147 for the second wicket before the skipper perished for 89 off 83 balls hitting 14 fours and 2 sixes. Jack Kitching was next in and 64 runs were added to take the score to an impressive 232-2 at the end of the 34th over. Nathan finished on 82 not out off 96 balls (9×4) and Jack 29 not out (4×4).
The homesters were under the cosh straight away, losing both openers without scoring, with their skipper top scoring with 26 as they replied with 97 all out in the 27th over. On the bowling front Jack took 3-20, Joe Holt 2-0 off 3 balls, Tom Robinson 2-17, Haroon Ali 2-19 and Sam Wainwright 1-14. We are 30 points in front of Sessay 3rds with two games to play.
2nd XI
The second team entertained Thirsk 3rds at Shires Lane. Four of their players hadn’t arrived when play finally got started. Strangely, they won the toss and asked us to bat – not what one would normally do with players arriving late. With the score on 22 Gareth Wooler was caught behind for 8. Casper Bean was joined by Bob Bateman and the pair took the score to 91 where the former went for 60 in the 25th over. We lost Adam Harding for a duck which brought in Josh Robinson. The batters had been circumspect against some tidy bowling. Josh changed all that has he plundered 44 from just 23 balls which included 5 fours and 2 sixes, and the shackles were loosened. Forty runs were added in the last 8 overs with Harry Ayrton making 15 and Jago Bean 7 not out. Bob finished with 55 not out from 78 balls. The final score 202-5 which earned us 5 batting points and denied them of 1 bowling point.
Their inform batted was bowled by Adam for a duck in the first over. Two more wickets fell as the score reached 67 and from their it was like a procession losing 4 wickets for the addition of 6 runs. A bit of tail wagging saw them reach 103 at the close of their innings in the 27th over.
Bowling honours went to Jago 4-15 helped by Adam 2-28, Harry 1-13 and Casper 1-17. We have one hand firmly of the trophy being 37 points in front of Pannal 3rds with two games to go.
Twice during the game, the tea hut looked like a casualty ward. One of their young players chased the ball to the “Candelisa” boundary, stopped the ball but kept on going and crashed into the wall. He suffered cuts and bruises and grazes and a blow to the head. His father who was the wicket keeper called his mother to come and pick him up. We kept tabs on him and learnt just before the end of the game that he was ok. The other casualty was Bob Bateman. He went for a catch, which was coming over his shoulder. The ball missed his hands and hit him in the mouth. There was a lot of blood kicking about and he looked like an hospital case. Fortunately, he only suffered a blow to his lips and his teeth were still all in place. After the bleeding stopped Bob came back on to field and was soon called upon to take a catch which he did with aplomb!
Fixtures
This week the first team are away to Rainton whilst the second team are at home to Bishop Monkton 2nds with the game being sponsored by His Grace the Duke of Devonshire.
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman
