Bootham Park v Post Office June 18th 2006 at Bootham Park

Back Row: John Patrick, John Crowe, Phil Holland, Jamie Case, Wayne McMahon, Will Outhart. Front Row: Chris Storey, Matt Horner, Pete Mitchell, Richard Todd, Nathan Ellison.

Post Office (226-4) beat Bootham Park (215-9) by 11 runs

Winning the toss again, Pete Mitchell chose to bowl, gambling on the drizzle stopping and the sun coming out. It didn't. The rain was never heavy enough to stop the game, but it kept the outfield moist despite our stirling efforts to mop up water with the ball. Jamie Case and Richard Todd bowled well, despite the wet ball excluding any possibility of swing.

First change bowler Matty Horner turned in a great spell of seam bowling, picking up 3 wickets in his 8 overs, including that of the ever modest and charming Martin Baggaley. Phil Holland and John Crowe also bowled tightly but the real revelation was Wayne "Mac" McMahon. Bowling round the wicket, Mac moved the ball both in the air and off the seam, making it hard for even the Post Office's best batsmen to make solid contact with the ball. He finished with 1-36, having dismissed Glynn Botterill, caught-and-bowled for 32.

Post Office scored at an impressive rate, John Latham making his now traditional nearly-ton with a composed 93 not out. Martin Baggaley also chipped in a quick-fire 58 before trying one cocky shot too many and succumbing to Horner's Feng Shui. After 40 overs, Post Office had amassed a statuesque 226-4.

Bootham Park's reply began shakily as John Patrick was bowled for 1 by Paul "Scooby" Thornton, but Chris Storey and Pete Mitchell consolidated, putting on 93 for the second wicket before Botterill nipped both of them out in a devastating spell of 4-6 in 4 overs. Storey's batting was limited by a back spasm, yet he still made an excellent 63, picking the gaps and placing the ball with a maturity far beyond his years. Mitchell notched a useful 30.

John Crowe and Horner both batted well for 37 and 29 respectively but the overs were running out. Bootham's innings closed on 215-9, 11 runs short.