A weekend to forget for Richmondshire’s 1st XI, who came away from three fixtures with just a single win to show for their efforts, missing out on the ECB Premier Division points on Saturday and then suffering an agonising MacMillan Cup Final defeat on Sunday.
On Saturday the second half of the season began with a trip to Saltburn CC, who had defeated them in the season opener. Mike Layfield fell early, lbw to James Almond, and although Gary Pratt (30) and Dan Hodgson (28) added some substance in the middle order, Richmondshire were unable to build the platform needed against a disciplined home attack. Tom Scriven was the destroyer-in-chief for the visitors’ innings, claiming five wickets as the middle and lower order collapsed around him, and only Max Percival’s unbeaten 33 offered any late resistance as Richmondshire were bowled out for 140 in 41.5 overs.
Saltburn were then given a life by some wayward death bowling from Shafiqullah Ghafari, who leaked 55 from his nine overs despite picking up two wickets, and Ben Ainsley’s patient 67 saw the home side comfortably home with seven wickets and 15 overs to spare. It was a chastening afternoon for the visitors and a result that will hurt in the context of the title race at the top of the ECB Premier Division.
Leaders Barnard Castle were also defeated but picked up 12 points to Richmondshires 4, making the gap 21. Third place Darlingto RA had a twenty point win and are now just 11 points behind Richmondshire, who they paly next week.
There was better news on Tuesday evening, with Richmondshire’s Premier Hundred fixture at Barnard Castle producing a much-needed victory. Having elected to field, Richmondshire restricted the home side to 133 for 9 from their twenty overs, with Sam Wood’s three wickets the pick of a shared attack that also saw Harvey Websdale and Shafiqullah Ghafari take two wickets apiece.
Chasing 133, Richmondshire were given the perfect platform by Gary Pratt (31) before Joe White produced a superb unbeaten 74 from just 46 balls, an innings studded with twelve fours and a six, to guide the side home with six wickets in hand and overs to spare. A morale-boosting win, and one which will have done the dressing room no harm at all ahead of Sunday’s final.
That good feeling did not last, however, as Richmondshire’s hopes of MacMillan Cup glory were ended in agonising fashion by Marton CC, Yorks in Sunday’s final at Hurgill Road. Having won the toss and elected to field, Richmondshire could not find a way to stop Jonathan Spillane, who struck an unbeaten 92 from 58 balls to power the visitors to 184 for 5 from their twenty overs.
Harvey Websdale’s three wickets, including the key breakthroughs of Chris Veazey and Sam Berry in the space of three balls, were the pick of the home attack, but Spillane’s innings ultimately proved decisive. It was also a welcome return for club professional Lalith Akkaraju, back in the side having completed playing commitments in India, who claimed a wicket in his four overs.
In reply, Gary Pratt led the chase with 61 from 44 balls but his run out turned the game. Dan Hodgson added 29, while Owen Kelly finished unbeaten on 23, but Alex Wardell’s three wickets for the visitors halted the chase at a crucial stage. Richmondshire fell agonisingly short, finishing on 178 for 5 to lose by six runs and end their interest in the competition for another season.
AROUND THE CLUB
The 2nd XI also endured a difficult afternoon in Division 1, going down by six wickets at home to Thornaby CC. Richmondshire were bowled out for 155 in 46.5 overs, with Bertie Morris top-scoring with 70, but Thornaby chased down the target with more than an over to spare thanks to a superb 103 from just 49 balls from A Jones, who struck six sixes along the way. Jordan Forbes and Raam Raj shared four wickets for the home side, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
There was much better news for the 5th XI, who thrashed Etherley CC by 90 runs in Darlington and District League Division B action at Richmond School. Batting first, Richmondshire posted 244 for 3 from their 40 overs, built around a magnificent unbeaten 127 from Jahan Mohammed, with useful contributions from Theo Carey (36) and Mike White (31) laying the platform. In reply, Etherley were bowled out for 154, with Sophie White taking three wickets and John Bewell claiming two at an economical rate.
There were no fixtures for the 3rd or 4th XIs this weekend.
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