This article comes in audio format. To listen, just click on the play icon below.
FIRST ELEVEN
This week the first eleven were at home to Burnt Yates and looking to build on last week’s success. They won the toss and asked us to go first. Things didn’t look good as we slipped to 45 for 4 with three usually dependable batters back in the hut with single figure scores with the exception being Mo Saghir who scored 22. Sam Arkwright joined Struan Mackenzie and the score progress to 79 where the former was out for 32. Ten runs later Struan perished for 20 to leave the score on 89 for 6. Haroon Ali and Tom Robinson then figured in a partnership of 71 before Tom fell for 34. Two runs later Ben Keane followed without troubling the scorers – 162 for 8. Hammaad Hussain joined Haroon and they took the score to 201 where the later was out for a great knock of 56. Hammaad and Harry Ayrton were not done and they added anoher26 for the last wicket with Hammaad making 17 and Harry 10 not out.
It was now up to the bowlers to help us defend our 227, bearing in mind that they had scored over 300 the previous week. This they did in fine style reducing them to 32 for 6. A mini stand of 44 for the seventh wicket delayed the inevitable and they were dismissed for 109 of which 32 were extras, which included 22 wides! We move off the bottom into 10th place.
SECOND ELEVEN
A weakened second eleven travelled to Whixley 2nds – weakened because several players stood down to go with their families to the village fete, which I understand was a great success.
We won the toss and asked them to go first. Mini partnerships got them to 108 for 6. Then the last four wickets fell for the addition of thirteen runs to see them 121 all out. All the five bowlers used took wickets. Scott Robinson took 3 for 30, Paul Wormald 2 for 13, Thomas Mountain 2 for 22, Ben Jolly 2 for 31 and Maaz Nayyar 1 for 20.
We had an opening stand of 30 before Maaz and Thomas took the score to 80 where the later succumbed for 14. Young Ben went for 7 and then Maaz for a splendid 57 – 110 for 4. David Hird made 6 – 120 for 5. There were no more stutters as we got home by five wickets. We stay in sixth place although we only ten points off third place.
This week the first team travels to Whixley. The second team are at home to Bishop Monkton, although they have to answer the League as to why the have conceded three games. The games are sponsored by Sue and Gordon Kelly and Ian Cranston Auto Technicians.
Trevor Coe – ECC Chairman
