13/09/2026
Following up from yesterday’s celebrations, here is the report and my commentary from the special day.
Eastro lost the toss and were asked to bowl on a green deck (or so i was reliably informed) and immediately set to work pushing for the victory that we needed to secure promotion.
An incredibly tight opening spell from the captain (yet again) and young CB restricting Whitkirks batters early on before Harry took the break through leaving them 16-1 off 8.1 overs.
Tight spells from all involved left Whitkirk 39-1 at drinks. A maiden from young Chatham keeping the pressure applied until it got too much for Whitkirk resulting in another wicket, 39-2 in the 22nd and looking as if we may be chasing less than 100.
Runs then started free flowing until young Chatham decided to join the party in the 35th leaving Whitkirk 108-3. 31 more runs added off the remaining 5.4 overs with Whitkirk reaching 139-3 off their 40 overs.
Garforth had Hemingbrough all out for 108, Kippax had Barwick in Elmet all out for 98. Pressure on, chase this and we’re up, lose and we stay.
John Moller kick starting our innings with another 30 to take his tally to comfortably over 600 for the season. Mollinator the man you are. The less said about our number three (🏌️) the better. He’ll come good next year with the bat and the gloves mark my words.
Fin Turner and Richie Harrison in looking to keep scoring and rotating the strike. Garforth have won and go top of the league as it stands, we now need to chase this or get to 75% as a minimum to go up.
Turner falls after deciding to hit two fours and two sixes in four balls. A very well constructed 45 off 31 for him again. Garry Tooke and Richie in now needing not that many and securing the 75%.
We reach 90%, confirming we’re going up but celebrations are muted. Kippax are 13-8 chasing 98. Barwick we love you.
Tookey decides to sweep the seamer that’s on and WE WIN. Celebrations of promotion start, we’re top of the league as it stands. It’s now nearly 2am in Melbourne and I’m sat watching a Youtube stream (badger I know) waiting and agonisingly watching.
Kippax get to 50-8 and we’re starting to settle for second place and a promotion place. They go 9 down, cheers are there but short.
Facetime and time zones, who doesn’t love it. BARWICK WIN AND WE ARE CHAMPIOKS. The boys go mental in the Whitkirk changing rooms, I go mental at 3am.
CHAMPIONES CHAMPIONES OLE OLE OLE rings out across the ground. We’ve done it, we won the game and we’ve won the league.
Massive congrats to the boys yesterday playing and a massive thank you to all players involved in our title winning season.
Far too many stand outs for this post alone but a personal thank you to all at Eastrington CC and I wish you all the best for next season as I end up staying here in Melbourne.
Celebrations go long into the night back at HQ (at least that’s what the photos suggest) and I’m sure there’ll be a few sore heads this morning.
Signing off, SD x
