Whitby CC Survive in Final Day Drama

Sunday, 10 September 2023 09:31

Whitby went into the last day of the cricket season knowing they needed to match rivals Rockliffe to ensure their survival.

With the Middlesbrough side winning by eight wickets elsewhere, Whitby needed victory at Marske to be certain.

The hosts chose to bat first after winning the toss but were victims of an excellent display from Whitby's seamers.

Joel Lloyd took 3 for 43, but it was Tom Steyert with 2 for 31 and James Fawcett with 2 for 43 that left Marske's top order in pieces at 19/3.

The hosts eventually scrambled to 189/9 from their 50 overs, with Ricky Hall picking up 2/37.

The key partnership was between Theo Clarke (79) and Lewis Brearley (22). They added 67 after Lloyd had fired a quick 30 early on.

However, it got nervy at the end as the experienced bowling pair of Hall and Steve Allen combined with the bat to take Whitby home in the 44th over for a two-wicket win.

It proved enough to see them survive what would've been their first relegation in decades.

On a successful afternoon for our Yorkshire Coast sides, Folkton & Flixton were also victorious, though weren't able to secure promotion.

Visitors Sutton-on-Hull chose to bat first and were skittled for 212 in the 45th over.

Harry Walmsley impressed with 4/25, there were two wickets each for Callum and Elliot Hatton and one for Zain Maqsood.

However, at 116/8 it looked like any chances of victory were gone for the hosts.

It took a brilliant unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 97 with Callum Anderson firing 51 not out from 68 balls and Rich Malthouse a steady 39 not out from 79 deliveries.

The win cemented fourth spot, in the Yorkshire Premier North Championship East, for Folkton & Flixton just edging out rivals Bridlington who won again.

Brid beat Brandesburton after putting the hosts in at Rial Cricket Ground.

Casey Rudd and Ricky Robinson took three wickets each.

Steve Janney picked up 2/67 with Adam Newington the tightest bowler with 1/37 from his 13 overs.

Brid batters were in good form with Rudd leading the way with a devastating 93 from 98 balls.

Russell Robinson guided his side home with an unbeaten 40 as Brid secured fifth with a five-wicket win.