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Match Report...

KFCC vs. Harrogate Strays (Away)
10 Sep 2011

Knaresborough Forest, sponsored by Windsor Court Properties, rounded off their 2011 league campaign with a comprehensive 235 run demolition of Harrogate Strays at St George's Road.

Still with an outside chance of being promoted to Division 1 for the first time since 2007, Forest knew that onnly maximum points would suffice. Consequently, Stew Pyke had no hesitation in batting first.
Matt Parker and Jim Skaith opened up against Simeon Baines and Marcus Fox. It was fair to say Strays adopted an end of season approach to this fixture, as both openers sturggled to find consistent lines and lengths on a pitch which offered some assistance to the bowlers.
Parker was in his usual attacking mode and regulalry peppered the ropes. He was unlucky to fall for 15 however; playing defensive to a fullish ball from Baines, he could only watch on as the ball rolled back onto his stumps and remove the off-bail (29-1).

Jack Martin strode out at 3 and seemed like a man in a hurry. Some very crisp strokes on both sides saw the Strays fielders spread in a hurry, and the pair took the score past 50. There was a brief stoppage in play when Strays, who had started the game with 10 men, saw the arrival of 12 year old George Hampson who came onto keep wicket in the place of Craig Griffin. He was unlucky not to pick up Skaith early on; clipping a ball off of his pads, Skaith could only tickle it down the leg-side, and as Hampson caught it, he lost control as the ball jarred out of his hands when he fell.

Phil Ralli's mixture of dob and leg side rubbish replaced Fox at the pavillion end, and Martin found this rather to his liking as he crashed a number of fours through mid-on. Ralli soon pickec him up though, when Martin again looked to go through the on-side , and succedded in chipping it sraight to Fox at mid-wicket to depart for 38 (93-2).
Dave Skaith joined his elder sibling at the crease, and the pair proceeded to 82 for the fourth wicket. Baines bowled through to complete figures of 1-69 from his allocation, and was replaced by young Jono Bradley, sporting a rather fetching new romantic haircut.

Struggling to find any consistency, the Skaith brothers cashed in against the youngster, and Ralli suffered equally, as the score rocketed past 150 with over 20 overs left to go. Skaith hit the biggest "four" seen at the Nursee Ground, when he lofted a dobber from Ralli over the pavillion roof, causing a stoppage in play in Harrogate's 1st XI match against Castleford.

Jim Skaith won the race to 50 but was soon in the shed following a mix up with his brother. Driving a delivery to the point boundary, Jim was slow in getting back for a second and was run out for 53 (175-3). An innings which saw him dropped 4 times, and given not out off of an audible edge.
Craig Robson, promoted for a biff at 5, failed to trouble the scorers when he was sawn off lbw to Ralli (184-4).
Oli Cullingworth began majestically with a Pietersen-esque backfoot drive through the offisde, and hard running between the wickets saw the pair add 75 in next to no time.

Fox replaced Ralli at the pavillion end for a final burst, but as his pace, shoulders and bottom lip dropped, saw the Forest batsmen cashed in. He did manage to burgle a couple wickets however. Firstly he cleaned up OC for 26, and got Phil Arrand caught behind for 3, as Forest switched into blasting mode. Nick Horsman came in at 8, and tried to put everything out of the ground. His first ball was despatched for 4, and the signs were good. Sadly that was as good as it got, as a series of heaves and misses, two missed stumpings and general frustration, saw his innings culminate in being picked off by Fox for 4.

Meanwhile, David Skaith had moved to a majestic century, and was now toying with the flagging Strays attack. Mark Sedgley's left-arm tweak had been introduced by this stage, and was disapperaing to the midwicket rope at regular intervals. He was finally caught by Jimmy Dewhirst at long-on for a majestic 129, and Pyke and Jubb saw out for the point as the innings closed on 311-8.

A minimalistic tea proceeded the Stryas' response. Andy Lee and Dave Skaith opened up against Miles Rawlings and Bob Craddock. After a maiden from Lee, Skaith had quite an eventful first over. Firstly an off-cutter saw Craddock edge behind but Robson failed to hold on. Two balls later the pair combined to send the batsman on his way. A swinging legisde delviery saw Craddock overbalance, and Robson effected his 20th stumping of the season to send him on his way for 0 (0-1).

Pete Ingham joined Rawlings, who had now mowed a couple of legside deliveries to the rope to get him underway. It was turning into the David Skaith show when Rawlings became the second wicket to fall. Scoreboard pressure forced him to try and launch the ball out of the ground, but could only sky it to Nick Horsman at mid-on, who juggled and caught at the second attempt. One run later, Andy Lee joined the party as Ingham getting a good stride in was also sawn off by the umpire for 10, and Forest smelled blood at 23-3.

Andy Lee picked up his second wicket in identical fashion when Dewhirst has also "plumb" lbw for 2, and when Sim Baines was caught and stumped down the legside by Robson in the same ball for 0, an early start to the end of season night out was on the cards with the hosts 27-5.
Mark Sedgley took this as a cuse to start playing a few shots, and drove a few decent looking off-side fours. Craig Griffin came and went for a sponge, when Lee bowled him (31-6).
After 7 overs, Stew Pyke came on for his final twirl of the season. He immediately picked up Ralli (played on for 4) to earn his place in the big green book for the second year in a row. Sedgley perished one run later, as Pyke's "plan" saw him caught by Cullingworth at deep square leg for 14.

Marcus Fox came in and teed off immediately, seeing swinging as the best form of attack. He eased to 13 before being castled by Andy Lee to earn him his first Michelle of the year (5-30). At 59-9 and just the two juniors at the crease, Forest eased off the pedal somewhat and offered up some charity match bowling. Incensed by being hit through the covers, Lee came back off his full run up and peppered the diminuitive Hampson in a manner not seen since Stu Ellison terrorised the Newby Hall kids last season.
The kids added 17 for the last wicket before the innings closed. Hampson played back to a ball from Lee, popping up a return catch. As Arrand , Skaith and Lee all called for the catch, Arrand muscled his way to the front of the queue to claim it, and Strays were all out for 76.

An excellent first season back in Division 2 for the Gold Leaves. Falling short in the final few weeks my have cost promotion, but there is an excellent foundation on which to build for net year.

A massive thank you to Stewart Pyke who has been a superb captain over the past 3 years, getting the club to its lofty position today. We wish him well coming back into the ranks, and leaves the new skipper with an exciting challenge ahead!

[Craig Robson]

Summary

Knaresborough Forest - 311-8 (45 overs)
David Skaith 129
Jim Skaith 53
Jack Martin 38

Harrogate Strays - 76 (24.2 overs)
Andy Lee 5-30
David Skaith 3-25
Stewart Pyke 2-19

27 Aug 2010

Hello campers

Robbo i was struggling to an answer to this weeks question until i was reminded about dazzler's recent suggestion of an overseas tour to round off the 2011 campaign. Interested anyone? I bet ya?

Another great weekend for the 1st's saw the mauling of hampsthwaite, backed up by a markington defeat to this weeks opponents thornton le moor, putting the gold leaves nine points clear. Lets show them our gratitude by giving them a shaving at fortress calcutt tomorrow.

Elton robson has been at it again with two new songs added this week. Advanced orders being taken for the eagerly awaited full album.

Adios

Barnsey

Avid Manchester United supporter Karl Barnes works for Lloyds TSB and opens the batting for the 1st XI.

View Karl's Profile for more information.

 

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