THE Timothy Taylor’s Craven League did not manage to make it a hat-trick of successive wins in the Nidderdale Show match at Pateley Bridge Cricket Club on Sunday, writes Bill Marshall.
The Craven League won the toss and opted to field and were optimistic when they walked into the marquee for lunch, having bowled out the Nidderdale League for 112 on a wicket that was not covered when the players arrived.
Harrogate duo Isaac Light and Eddie Batchelor were dismissed early doors, but No 3, Aussie Damon Malcolm - a leading light from Nidderdale League champions Upper Wharfedale - scored the bulk of their runs with 63.
He faced 88 balls and hit nine fours before being trapped lbw by George Beckwith (Gargrave), only Knaresborough’s Oli Fryer (18) also making it into double figures, putting on 59 with Malcolm as they recovered from 41-5.
Matthew Sharp (Eldwick & Gilstead) took 3-24, Ahsan Rizwan (Silsden) 2-18 and Dave Harrop (Gargrave) 2-11.
However, the Craven League were then dismissed for 48 in 13.3 overs, opener Ryan Ridehalgh (Glusburn) being the main contributor with 26 in an innings of five ducks.
Malcolm finished with 7-26, including a hat-trick, as the last five wickets fell without addition to the score, Will Bere (Harrogate), who opens the bowling for Dorset, taking 3-23.
Quite why the Nidderdale League, who have over 90 clubs in eight divisions, feel that it is all right to field players who have not played Saturday cricket in the league that season - such as skipper Light, Bere and Lachlan Doidge, who plays Premier Division cricket for Cleckheaton in the Bradford Premier League - is beyond me.
At least the Craven League fielded 11 players who play regular Saturday cricket in their league and, as per last year, there was no-one from the Nidderdale Show to present the trophy.
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