This article comes in audio format. To listen, just click on the play icon below.

First Eleven
Second place Ben Rhydding were the visitors to the Billy Bob Ice Cream Parlour ground at Shires Lane. They won the toss and asked us to bat first. We struggled to 76 for 4 in the 21st over with Nathan Barrett back in the hut after pulling a calf muscle. Sam Arkwright and Tom Robinson pushed the score to 129 where the former went for 41. Two more wickets fell including that of Nathan as we reached 139 where Tom was out for 36. The last two wickets managed to push us to 156 and three batting bonus points.
We quickly reduced them to 5 for 2 before the next wicket fell at 90. Our only other success came at 113. They strolled to victory in the 27th over. Haroon Ali took 2 for 40, Hammaad Hussain 1 for 31 and Sam 1 for 33. Hammaad’s wicket was that of his brother Aslan who used to play with us!
We remain in 10th place, 33 points in front of Studley Royal who we have yet to play.
Second Eleven
We travelled to Blubberhouses 2nds and suffered a similar fate as the 1st XI. We won the toss and elected to field. Their innings revolves around opener James Vinette-Bailey who scored 79 and Tom Wild with 32. Most other batsmen reached double figures as they totalled 219 for 7. New recruit Scott Gee was the best bowler with3 for 17 to go with Dave Mountain 3 for 55, Scott Robinson 2 for 51 and Gareth Wooler 1 for 32.
For us Casper Bean top scored with53 and Tom French made 22 not out as we limped to 135 for 7 in our 40 overs.
Our opponents leap frog us into fourth spot with us four points behind in fifth.
This Saturday sees the First Team travel to Harrogate 3rds whilst the Second Team entertain Pateley Bridge 2nds. BOTH MATCHES START AT 1PM.
Match ball sponsors are R McDowell Haulage & Distribution and MW and RF Brewster.
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman


