Kirkby overcome Dacre to pull clear of relegation zone
Whilst the return of Kirk and Goldsmith strengthened KMCCs bowling in the absence of last seasons two strikemen (Armer and Fraser) the sunny weather indicated a big advantage to batting first and when Brad called incorrectly for the second week running, KMCC prepared for a spell of chasing leather. Whilst Dacre never completely shrugged off the shackles imposed by disciplined bowling from Pickles, Kirk and Fielder at 167-3 with 8 overs left the innings was set for a big assault and an imposing total. Kirk, 4-50 and Goldsmith, 3-55 kept their nerve alongside some disciplined fielding to bowl out Dacre in the final over for 226 - a good score on the rolling fields of the KMCG.
Nattress and Harford-Cross,37 put on 63 for the first wicket to set a solid base and a chance for a run chase in the final overs and then Fielder, 54 and Fraser, 41 upped the tempo in a stand of 72 a victory whilst difficult was back on the cards until Fielder fell padding up with no shot and falling to the finger of death. Needing up to 9 an over Brad played a captains innings, thrilling the crowd with a powerful display of hard hitting. Just when the match looked won at 209-3, Fraser so secure until that point was bowled and Dacre sniffed an opening. Three further quick wickets kept the nerves on edge but Atkinson would not be denied in a barnstorming 42no he smote Kirkby to consecutive victories with 5 balls remaining.
| KMCC v Dacre Banks CC (Nidderdale League Division 1) | ||||||||||
| Played at the KMCG on 17 June 2006 | ||||||||||
| KMCC (6pts) beat Dacre Banks (0pts) by 3 wkts | ||||||||||
| Dacre Banks won the toss and elected to bat | ||||||||||
| Dacre Banks innings (44.3 overs) | Bowling | O | M | R | W | |||||
| G Crossley | c& | b | Pickles | 32 | P Goldsmith | 8 | 0 | 55 | 3 | |
| R Bradley | c Fielder | b | Kirk | 28 | P Kirk | 11.3 | 0 | 50 | 4 | |
| M Halse | St Briscombe | b | Fielder | 53 | R Pickles | 12 | 1 | 43 | 1 | |
| N Houseman | LBW | b | Kirk | 35 | K Fielder | 12 | 1 | 64 | 1 | |
| C Cowell | LBW | b | Goldsmith | 29 | C Nattress | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| J Ripley | Run Out | 18 | ||||||||
| A Sylvester | LBW | b | Goldsmith | 7 | ||||||
| A Simon | c& | b | Kirk | 1 | ||||||
| I Houseman | c Atkinson | b | Goldsmith | 3 | ||||||
| M Peachey | Not Out | 8 | ||||||||
| T Reynolds | c Goldsmith | b | Kirk | 4 | ||||||
| Extras | 8 | |||||||||
| TOTAL | 226 | |||||||||
| Fall of Wickets | ||||||||||
| 1-54 2-87 3-140 4-167 5-189 6-204 7-209 8-211 9-217 10-226 | ||||||||||
| KMCC innings (44.1 overs) | Bowling | O | M | R | W | |||||
| C Harford-Cross | Stumped | b | M Halse | 37 | M Peachey | 9.1 | 1 | 41 | 1 | |
| C Nattress | Stumped | b | T Reynolds | 18 | A Simon | 8.3 | 0 | 64 | 0 | |
| K Fielder | LBW | b | T Reynolds | 54 | M Halse | 12 | 2 | 35 | 1 | |
| I Fraser | b | N Houseman | 41 | T Reynolds | 12 | 1 | 59 | 2 | ||
| B Atkinson | Not Out | 42 | I Houseman | 0.3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| R Briscombe | b | N Houseman | 6 | N Houseman | 2 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||
| P Goldsmith | LBW | b | M Peachey | 0 | ||||||
| J Marston | b | N Houseman | 4 | |||||||
| P Kirk | Not Out | 0 | ||||||||
| R Pickles | ||||||||||
| S Blackburn | ||||||||||
| Extras | 25 | |||||||||
| TOTAL | 227 | |||||||||
| Fall of Wickets | ||||||||||
| 1-63 2-81 3-153 4-209 5-215 6-216 7-225 | ||||||||||