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The 1st team travelled to Newton-le-Willows and unfortunately lost by four wickets.
Going first we reached 45 before Mo Saghir went for 31. The wickets fell as we struggled to 64. A mini partnership of 37 by Sam Arkwright, who made 15 and Haroon Ali took the score to 101 for 5. The latter went for 36 at 119. Two more wickets added 20 which left us 139 for 8. Struan McKenzie and Hammaad Hussain pushed the score to 202 where the former went for a gritty 42 which included 4 fours and 2 sixes. The innings closed on 202 with Hammaad 25 not out, which included 4 fours. We only used 37 of our allotted 45 overs.
In their innings we threatened slightly as we reduced them to 102 for 4. However, a partnership of 89 took them to 191 for 5 with the finishing line in sight. Another wicket followed at 192. It wasn’t to be though as they sauntered home in the 35th over. Struan claimed 2 for 42, Haroon 2 for 64 and Sam 2 for 69. Sadly, we drop to the bottom of the table after Burnt Yates beat Ben Rhydding.
The 2nd XI moved up to 4th in the table during the week following the withdrawal of Boroughbridge and Staveley. All the points gained in the games played against them would be removed from the record – we lost to them in the first games of the season and lost only five points!
We entertained Killinghall 2nds at Shires Lane – they are the side that gained automatic promotion last year. On winning the toss they elected to go first.
Their innings was dominated by opener S Copley who has been in fine form this season. He made a splendid 110 which included 7 fours and 6 sixes. He was 9th out with the score on 170. The innings closed on 173 for 9. The score could have been much higher if his colleagues had helped him. Only one other player reached double figures – 12 and extras who were 17. Skipper Wormald bowled well to finish with 4 for 41 and there was a wicket apiece for Jago Bean, Thomas Mountain, Caspar Bean and Ben Jolly. Jago performed a tremendous piece of fielding, hitting the stumps with a direct throw from about 20 yards to run out the batsman.
Our innings got off to a solid start with Caspar Bean making 15 of 57. Sam Keane joined the other opener, Josh Robinson, and they set the stall out in superb fashion. By the end of the 20th over when the score was 103 for 1 their bowler heads had fallen. Even the usually threatening Lijo Thomas had gone for 30 off 4 overs. Rapid progress was made by the batters and victory by nine wickets was achieved in the 27th over. Josh made a superb 112 not out from 81 balls which included 14 fours and 3 sixes, whilst Sam made 35 not out.
This week the 1st XI makes the short journey to Ben Rhydding 1st XI.
The 2nd XI are at home to Blubberhouses 2nd. The match sponsors are Yockenthwaite Farm and R N Wooler & Co Ltd
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman
