Scarborough CC Vs York CC – Match Report

At North Marine Road,Scarborough 7 September.

York won by 10 runs. Scarborough 2pts, York 10pts. Toss: York.

A windswept North Marine Road provided the perfect stage for the final match of 2019 for both sides and an enthralling contest was settled with a mere six balls to spare the sides leaving the field at 7.25pm having squeezed every last ounce of cricket from their season. Jack Leaning making his last appearance for the club before moving south to join Kent CCC strode to the middle alongside skipper Duncan Snell but both were forced to retreat to the pavilion as a squally shower drifted across the ground just prior to first ball being bowled causing a ten minute delay. The visitors opening pair took full advantage of some wayward bowling with the new ball finding the boundary on a number of occasions as the score raced along at almost six runs an over through the first ten. They also did well to withstand a hostile spell from South African Matthew Pillans, a barrage of short balls was interspersed with several wayward deliveries meaning he had conceded 52 runs by the end of a seven over spell in which he had struck both openers on the helmet. In Snell’s case it was the ball before he dispatched the Yorkshire quick to the east terrace for a boundary, the eleventh of his innings, to bring up a half-century, the left hander passing 50 for the 40th time in 82 innings since the start of the competition.  Leaning reached the same ‘mark clipping a ball from his county colleague of his legs for a ninth boundary from 47 balls faced. A partnership worth 107 came to an end when right-arm spinner Linden Gray bowled the York captain and four balls later trapped James Billington lbw another valuable wicket given the Australian had averaged almost 50 over his previous ten innings. Gray continued to wreak havoc Leaning the next to go lobbing a gentle chance to cover and then wickets with consecutive balls in his next over left the scoreboard showing 130-5 and the bowler with figures of 5-9 from five overs. Few would argue that the promotion of Ben Robinson up to the first team has been one of the season’s success stories and the youngster again proved his value to the side digging in when those around him faltered. A 66 ball half-century was key as the visitors looked to rebuild and 61 for the seventh wicket to with another of the sides newcomers Jack Charters saw the total pass 200. Former Scarborough skipper Ben Elvidge was brought back into the attack in the 43rd over and took two wickets in three balls including Charters lbw to an uncharacteristic attempt at a reverse slog. Daniel Woods provided support to Robinson who finished a Premier League career best 72 not out having steered the side from a precarious position at the half-way stage to a total of 241.

 

Any momentum looked to have been squandered with the concession of 18 extras in the opening 12 overs of the hosts reply with the only consolation the wicket Sam Drury for three. Jonathan Moxon, after missing almost the entire season with a hand injury, knocking back the leg stump of this season’s YLN leading run scorer. Oliver Stephenson, who top scored with 74 in the corresponding fixture last season, was given a life on 13 when a regulation slip chance failed to stick, but his luck ran out having moved on to 31 before chipping a comfortable catch to Clarke Doughney at mid-wicket of Daniel Woods. Ben Elvidge enjoyed a similar slice of luck but holed out hitting into the wind leaving the total at 102-3 at the halfway point. Woods second wicket, that of opener Darren Harland came shortly after drinks but a partnership of 47 between former Driffield Town pair James Pick and Casey Rudd kept their side in the ascendancy. Pick completed a half-century from 42 balls including seven fours and his sides only six and despite the loss of partners from the other end was able to reduce the target to a run a ball. The game turned on an excellent piece of fielding from Billington his direct hit from backward point running out a retreating Pick with just 20 needed for victory. Daniel Woods continues to inspire those around him and rounded off a battling campaign with a five wicket haul the last of which, Kristian Wilkinson to an excellent catch by Charters taken running back over his shoulder at short fine leg, all but ended the home sides’ chances of victory. The last act before the curtain fell on another season was Moxon rushing in from the Peasholm Park end with a cold autumn wind at his back and striking Jack Holt on the pad the umpires raised finger signalling an end to the contest with just ten runs between the sides.