By Freddie Nathan and William Cooper
York men’s first eleven took on their opponents from Lancaster on a grey and windy 22 acres on Friday. The Red Rose, albeit competing in a higher league, were up against the most improved sports team last year as voted for by the University, even if we were missing some key players due to academic commitments. This improvement was evident as a youthful York side, with the exception of some sloppy fielding and wayward bowling in the final overs of Lancaster’s final overs, showed some real determination and quality to chase down a competitive Red Rose total, especially from centurion Andrew Kirkwood. Lancaster won the toss on and chose to bat first on a wicket which was unlikely to give bowlers much with which to work.
Will Felgate, who also played for the Rugby 1sts at Huntingdon Stadium on Friday night, opened the bowling for York with a maiden. Felgate and Tom Williams at the other end kept things very tight for the first 5 overs, Lancaster only mustering 9 runs. Indeed, after 10 overs, the score was only 26-0, a few misfields the only discernible action of note. Lancaster opener Jack Aspden then started to hit a few boundaries before succumbing to Felgate, LBW for 23. The score was 38-1, and the very next over it was 38-2, as spinner Alex McDonald knocked Zach Godfrey-Plewes’s off stump out of the ground for 7. Indeed, it was a wicket maiden for McDonald’s first over. George Richards came on at the other end and dropped a very simple caught and bowled with his second ball, before McDonald struck again, catching Ed Markey off his own bowling. Lancaster’s number five Joe Purvis came in and hit a huge 6 to get off the mark. After 20 overs, the score was 61-3.
Alex Kirkpatrick dropped Purvis at mid off with the score at 64, and at the half way stage of the innings, Lancaster were scoring slowly at 69-3. Another wicket was quickly added without another run being scored, Kash Memon catching Purvis at mid off, again off McDonald. Indeed, McDonald finished his 10 over spell with terrific figures of 3 wickets, 4 maidens for 27 runs. After some more dropped catches, mainly off Richards’s bowling, York took their fifth wicket with the score on 99, keeper Kirkwood catching Isherwood off Felgate for 25. Felgate struck again with the score on 109, trapping Sam Walsh LBW. The score was 122-6 of 38 overs, York in the driving seat, Felgate finishing his spell with 3 wickets for 41.
However, the game started to swing in Lancaster’s favour, Jonny Millwood passing 50 with some sublime shots, while his batting partner Joe Wozniczka-Wells aiding him with some nicks through the slips. The 150 came up in the blink of an eye, complete with a crucial missed stumping by Kirkwood. Wozniczka-Wells fell for 23, caught and bowled Kirkpatrick, yet Millwood carried on, Lancaster scoring 74 runs in 7 overs, reaching 203 by the end of the 47th over. The last 3 overs were frantic, two skiers falling in between two fielders and being dropped by Kirkwood while boundaries continued to be hit. Two wickets were picked up though, Weller caught behind off Tom Williams, Kirkwood making amends, and with the very last ball of the innings, a run out as Lancaster pushed for every last single. The red rose finished on 237-9.
York’s openers Frazer Crawford and Alex McDonald strode out, looking to begin the run-chase in positive fashion and chase down a competitive, yet reachable total. This aim was very much achieved as first-year Crawford hit three boundaries and a single off the first over. He continued to look menacing, hitting a series of boundaries, but this dominance was ephemeral, as an attempted cover drive off bowler Walton was lofted towards the man at point who took a great catch to consign Crawford to the pavilion with 28 and his team on 32. After such a promising start, this was a great disappointment and things worsened when new batsmen Edward Wilson was bowled for a duck after attempting to play an ambitious cut shot. McDonald subsequently hit a couple of boundaries until he too fell, this time LBW to bowler Weller. This left York 51-3, and looking rattled, with not even 10 overs bowled. It was now Nick Townson and wicketkeeper Andrew Kirkwood at the crease, but before they could get into any kind of rhythm, the heavens opened, and rain stopped play with York at 59-3 at the end of the twelfth over.
The rain break failed to prevent the falling of York wickets as the restart saw the dismissal of Townson, as he was clean bowled by spinner Melwood after scoring just the one run. The introduction of Kash Memon, though, saw the beginning of a York revival as he and Kirkwood struck up a superb partnership. Initially, the pair was careful at the crease, understandably eager to retain their wickets. Nonetheless, they were both able to keep the run rate ticking over with singles and a couple of boundaries and at the end of the 19th over the score was 81-4, a score which left the tie very much in the balance. The 24th over saw the 100 up for York, with both batsmen looking increasingly comfortable, particularly Kirkwood, who was now on 34 and beginning to push on speedily towards his half century. This duly came at the end of the 32nd over. It was an assured and sensible performance, which had stabilised a rocking York ship which was now on 143-4 and looking more likely to reach Lancaster’s total.
With the 150 up at the close of the 33rd over, York were pushing on for the win. Lancaster’s breakthrough came in the 36th over, as Mamon, who had played a superb supporting role for an increasingly impressive Kirkwood, spooned a drive into the grateful hands of a Lancastrian, and the partnership was broken. It was to be Will Felgate to continue the charge, a usual number 10 elevated in the order before his duties as a Rugby 1sts player made him unavailable. He batted well, and by the 38th over Kirkwood was on 58 and York on the relatively healthy score of 174-5.
Felgate’s usual lowliness in the order did not prevent him from playing an unconventional, yet effective innings as he was able to amass an unbeaten 28, and support his partner in crime Kirkwood who continued to play with real quality. As the match wore on, York looked more and more comfortable, with the two batsmen beginning to play more expansively, yet with very few scares. Lancaster attempted to change the bowling around but the sodden outfield and the class of their opponents’ batsmen made it very difficult for them, leading to the loss of 67 runs for just 9 overs. It only took Kirkwood until the 45th over to reach an outstanding century and in just the next over York were able to wrap up an impressive victory, largely down to the brilliance of Kirkwood and the support of Memon and Felgate. After a loose final few overs from York’s bowlers during the Lancaster innings, and a very jittery start from their batsmen, it was a relief when the steadying hand of these three allowed York to achieve an important victory in this Roses competition.