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First Eleven
The 1st XI travelled to Studley Royal for a “must win” game. They knew a victory would see off their fears of relegation. Skipper Morgan Davies won the toss and asked them to bat first. After losing a wicket without a run on the board, they put on 34 for the second wicket. This was extended to 105 for 4 before they lost their last six wickets for just 31 runs, to give us five bowling bonus points. Actually, those five points meant that Studley couldn’t catch us even it they won. Mo Saghir claimed 4 for 36, Haroon Ali 2 for 33, Hammaad Hussain 2 for 34, Josh Robinson 1 for 9 and Sam Arkwright 1 for 20.
In our innings we lost Mo for 6 and Nathan Barrett for 4 before Andrew Foulds, 20, and Josh, 11, pushed us to 60 for 4. Our skipper joined Tom Stead and the pair took the score to 126 where Morgs fell for 27. Tom delivered the “coup de grace” to end on 51 not out as we surged over the line by five wickets with 19 overs to spare. We move up to ninth in the table.
Second Eleven
The 2nd XI entertained Middleham 2nd at the Billy Bob’s Ice Cream parlour sponsored ground and it turned out to be a quizzical game. We won the toss and put them in and they blasted 241 for 3 in their overs which included 26 extras. Part-time bowler Rory Dollard took 2 for 27 off four overs and Gareth Wooler 1 for 26, also off four overs. Eight bowlers were used with perhaps the strangest site was that of Harry Ayrton being smashed for 31 off the last over which included four sixes, a four, and three wides!
Considering our target, our innings got off to a slow start. Usually, our intrepid duo of Gareth Wooler and Caspar Bean would have had “a go” at getting us off to a flying start. As it was the first wicket fell at 48 in the 16th over where the former went for 22. By the time we reached the 33rd over we stood at 121 for 7. This became 128 for 9 with three batting bonus points secured. Could we get a fourth – yes, we could! Scott Gee 18 not out and skipper Wormington 8 not out took us to 154 for 9 at the end of our 40th over. A little bit of pride restored from a strange match. We sit in fourth spot in the table.
Today sees the final games of the season with the 1st XI at home to Thornton Watlass and the 2nd XI away to Knaresborough Forest.
The match balls are sponsored by Scott Robinson Electrical and Val & Terry Jamieson.
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman
