KMCC vs Pateley Bridge C.C.

KMCC fight hard but succumb to table toppers

 On a hot summers day, a packed KMCG crackled with anticipation at the forthcoming top of the table clash with Pateley Bridge. Spurred on by the return of their inspirational captain from cattle prodding duties, KMCC won an important toss and elected to bat. Openers Brownlee and Nattress, bristling with confidence, gave the innings a great start stroking the ball around with ease whilst adding 53 for the first wicket. Although both openers were struck down in their prime, Brownlee one short of a fine half century, the stage was set for an assault on the bowling in the second half of the innings. Controversy was to follow however when Pateley introduced Spence into the attack who in his excitement proceeded to send down a barage of beamers and after only 4 legitimate deliveries and 3 warnings was exiled back to fielding duties by the umpire. The game then turned as Pateley introduced their slow bowlers who squeezed the life out of the Kirkby innings with a series of tight spells, Slack in particular excelled taking 2-22 from 12 mid innings overs. Fielder, 45 and Atkinson, 21 battled to ensure a total of 180-8 was posted at tea, which whilst defendable always seemed to be 30 runs short.

 Early wickets were needed and failed to emerge as Colin Chadwick, 36 took a liking to Frasers bowling in particular and peppered the Pateley supporters on the leg side boundary with a series of sublime shots. The second change of Goldsmith and Pickles removed the openers to give KMCC a sniff but Gray,29 and Slack, 60 held firm. A flurry of late wickets from D Fraser, 3-61 and Blackburn, the pick of the bowlers, 2-33 meant that Pateley had to fight to the finish and gave Andrew "Beamers" Spence the opportunity to ease his frustration by striking the winning runs. For KMCC the challenge of Burton awaits and for Pateley a romp to the title and the resumption of their position in the highest echelons of the Nidderdale League after a hiatus of only one year.