Dringhouses CC vs Golden Ball CC - 10 June 2007

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Match Report by Whitty Whittingham

The venue for the game versus Dringhouses had been changed due to the Bootham Park outfield having been dug up, however, the St Helens Road ground was an ideal alternative on a hot June afternoon. Captain Pete Mitchell won the toss and elected to bat, opening himself with Andy Hellewell, who was returning from his opening game injury at Rose and Crown. Larner opened the bowling from the Pavilion End and bowled a superbly going for two runs off his first two overs. At the Tesco End Bibby bowled with similar ferocity although Hellewell, now fully recovered from his horror injury, played a beautiful shot for four. Both batsmen settled quickly against a very strong bowling attack and played steadily until Hellewell was adjudged to be leg before wicket for 13 runs after a Larner ball stayed low and straight.

All-American Superstar Charno came in for what would be his last innings before his mid-season break and immediately hit a beautiful four, followed by two more quick-fire boundaries. However, whilst Mitchell (C) was settled and scoring well, Charno fell victim to the first change bowler, Tom Owen, who bowled the delivery of the day, a textbook leg-break that pitched wide of leg stump and whipped back to hit the top of middle. Charno made a schoolboy error, trying to hoof the ball to cow corner, only to see his bails disturbed. Gabbatiss, the Golden Ball “Golden Boy” at 15 years old, came in and settled into the longest partnership of the game with skipper Mitchell. The oldest and youngest players on the Golden Ball team batted well against Owen and the diminutive yet rapid Charlie Clamp. Owen's figures suffered at the end of his spell as he tired and pitched the ball too short.

Matty Horner and Jack Aaron entered the attack, and Aaron took the key wicket of Mitchell (for 36) in his second over, getting the ball to lift alarmingly from a good length and inducing an edge which was well caught by Owen at second slip. The next in to bat was Alistair Cross, who came to the crease on the back of a midweek 49*, looking particularly French with a strange cricket beret. However, after a single run was taken Cross’s wicket was the first of two to fall in quick succession being caught by Clamp off Horner's bowling. Gabbatiss followed him back to the pavilion three balls later being clean bowled by Horner. Grady, returning from an extended rest, joined Edward Cross, who had replaced his brother. Cross Snr looked a little edgy initially but then settled whilst the gifted Neil Grady set about dispatching the Dringhouses bowlers around the park. Unfortunately Cross Snr was sent back to the pavilion after being bowled by Horner. Larner, back on for his second spell, saw Grady hit a shot into the hands of Aaron for an excellent 33.

Berry came in and meticulously watched the ball onto the bat, holding the end up whilst Pat Gibbs played some nice shots which were unfortunately missed by the scorer but not by the adulating, if not a little merry, fans on the boundary. Gibbs ended up with, erm, some runs not out, whilst Berry also scored some runs, possibly. By this stage the scorer was so awestruck by the sublime batting which saw the Golden Ball CC accrue in excess of 200 runs that he neglected to notice the wicket of Berry fall and he be replaced by Millward at 10 who also hit, erm, some runs. At the end of the innings Golden Ball had put on a very respectable total of 203 runs. This innings saw ‘Rooney’ Gabbatiss move to the top of the runs table with 79, leaving Charno at second with 67 and Mitchell (C) with 63 in third place.

A good tea in the pavilion was the reward for both teams who had endured the scorching summer sun and there was an air of optimism among the Golden Ball CC players as they watched the West Indies get close to their target in the Old Trafford Test Match.

Golden Ball CC eagerly took to the field with Duncan Wright opening from the Tesco End. He bowled a superb maiden over, with his flowing hair and characteristic hop enhancing his beautiful swing bowling against the Dringhouses openers John Crowe and John Patrick. Millward also bowled well from the Pavilion End and after three overs only one run had been taken. In the fourth over Millward’s hard work was rewarded with the prize wicket of the talented Patrick, bowled by a nipbacker for four runs. This looked promising for the Golden Ball, however, they had not reckoned with the number three batsman, Sam Bibby, who made an immediate impact scoring on his first ball with a single. Millward was rested and replaced by ‘Mr Line-and-Length’ Hellewell at the Pavilion End but the batsmen seemed to pick him up quickly sending him for eight off his first over.

Charno replaced Wright from the Tesco End and bowled his first loosener to gullly. His bowling continued to perplex the batsmen (and fielders) with some deliveries pinging down around the wickets whilst the others flew past the unfortunate Gabbatiss behind the stumps. Charno’s erratic bowling did, however, pay off as he delivered a speedy yorker to the opener Crowe’s feet which he lofted up to Berry at square leg for 32. Chris Storey came in to bat as Mitchell and Grady came on to bowl but failed to slow the run rate, despite the best attempts by Neil ‘Larwood and Voce’ Grady who viciously bowled two consecutive balls into the boxes of the Dringhouses batsman. Mitchell (C) eventually made a late breakthrough bowling Bibby through the gate after a superb knock of 52.

Thrall arrived at the crease as the spectators and players alike applauded Bibby’s innings. Gabbatiss was brought from behind the stumps to bowl with A Cross, who had made a tremendous ‘flop-stop’ earlier in the game, replacing the youngster. Cross made a notable difference reducing the extras as Gabbatiss tried to make the breakthrough as Millward bowled his second spell but it was all too late. Storey hit a very respectable 49* and Thrall hit the winning runs off the unfortunate Berry who, bowling with his uniquely-angled run up, failed to prevent Dringhouses reaching their target of 204 with 11 overs remaining. This fielding performance left Whittingham as leading wicket taker with 5-38, Millward 3-34 and Gabbatiss 3-59.

The turnout for the third innings was diminished, however, after a few drinks at Dringhouses, Tatlioglu, Charno, Whittingham and Cocker showed for the Golden Ball with Cocker the only batsmen not out at 11.

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