Ingleton 215 – 8 (45 overs) Shireshead 216-5 (35 overs) 

by Mike Park

The morning drizzle did little to inspire confidence that any cricket at all would be played at all, let alone in the Dales village of Ingleton but by 7.45 pm Shireshead would be celebrating a fine win after some exhilarating cricket in the second innings.

Opting to field with a threat of rain a distinct probability Shirehead made less than auspicious start at Ingelton raced to 57 off 10 overs despite Weir removing opener Hughes jnr. in the first over.

Father John Hughes looked invincible as he stroked the ball to all parts in a partnership of 57 with Fleming (34). However, Park had him caught smartly by keeper Murphy with a classic leg cutter. Indeed, some parsimonious bowling by Park and Wilson reduced the run rate to under four an over before Fleming chopped one on from Wilson.

There then followed a rain delay and the outcome was a reduction of 10 overs from the Shireshead innings and the opportunity for some pleasing purchases from the jumble sale in the community centre.

On resumption, Reid was the first of three to be caught by the dependable Coulton for 34 and France swished and swatted before suffering the same fate. Dave Whitcombe  and Will Scott then began an assault aided by some ‘buffet’ Shireshead bowling, the latter hitting 42 before going the same way at Reid and France but this time to a swooping low catch by the sylph-like Coulton at mid-on.

Park bowled Whitcombe for 23 finishing with two wickets for 33 from his full 12 overs. Ingleton posted a total of 215 which was surely way beyond the resources of Shireshead in their allocated 35 overs.

Twiname and Yates had other ideas as they raced to 50 in six overs and 100 in 13 in a destructive partnership of 111 for the first wicket. Both batsmen were the perfect foil for each other. Yates, all brawn and power like a charging bullock clubbing six sixes and seven fours in a hugely entertaining 68 and Twiname, all grace and timing, stroking ten fours in his 53 (his fifth half-century of the season).

Yates fell to a shooter from Preston (1-74) and Twiname was caught by Whitcombe off Hughes (1-85).

93 was needed from the remaining 17 overs when Jake Gould and Adam Murphy came together and together they put on 73 for the third wicket, Gould making 50 not out and Murphy scoring 28.

This was such an important and impressive partnership as the two batsmen ran positively and dispatched any loose bowling with great skill and aggression.

However, after Bleasedale and Foy fell cheaply the pendulum began to edge towards the home side once more as Coulton faced the last four balls needing one to win but with the field enclosed in a tight ring. After two dot balls, France obliged by bowling a wide and victory was clinched.