12/07/2026
Great Habton CC vs Fylingdales CC – A Tie for the Ages
Back at Whiteholme for yesterday's fixture against Fylingdales, both teams were greeted by a pitch with a healthy green hue. No batter should have been too worried though after a reminder that Harry Amstell had gone absolutely bonkers on it for the Riders on Thursday night, smashing 144 from just 64 balls against Harome.
It was good to catch up with a few familiar Whitby faces before the game. Jord won the toss and elected to bat first – a decision that looked like the right one.
Lummer and Acorn strode out to continue the opening partnership that has served us well in recent weeks – recent being the key word. The first seven balls were a mixed bag: Lummer found the fence twice, there was a wide for four, and we were up and running. Then came the first ball of the second over. Lummer must have been on a promise, drilling a straight drive into the smallest gap imaginable, about three metres from the non-striker's end, before calling Mark through. Safe to say, Lummer never made it to the other end, run out for 9.
Tom Easterby came in at three with his usual confidence, but today's innings was all about batting time. He and Mark added 54 together before Tom was bowled for a well-made 34.
Ben "Beefy" Corner arrived at four and immediately hit the accelerator. His trademark swashbuckling approach helped add another 62 runs before Mark was trapped in front by one that kept straight, departing for a well-crafted 36.
Damo was eager at number five and nudged his first ball into the outfield to keep Ben on strike. Unfortunately, neither batter could really kick on. Ben eventually holed out for an entertaining 43, while Damo followed shortly afterwards for just 1.
At 141-5 in the 22nd over, Feathers and Jeffers were tasked with rebuilding and setting a defendable total. Looking to bat patiently and punish the bad ball, Jeffers was undone by an excellent delivery from leg-spinner Hayes, leaving us 153-6.
The mission now was simple: bat as long as possible with the boshmen still to come.
Bev chipped in with 11 before finding mid-off, while Corner's trademark bat speed never quite got going against the spin as Hayes took a sharp caught-and-bowled.
Feathers, meanwhile, was determined not to let the Fylingdales fielders have an easy afternoon. He was joined by the ever-aggressive Allanby, who peppered the boundary with ease, sending the ball racing across – and occasionally over – the short, scorched outfield.
The pair added an excellent 63 before Jord found Nat Parker for his third catch of the day, departing for a blistering 48 from just 29 balls.
With four overs remaining, JCC joined Feathers with the aim of batting through to the close. Jack smoked a boundary and the pair added another 16 before he lost his leg stump. Feathers finished unbeaten on 40 after what must rank among his longest innings ever.
256 on the board. Was it enough?
After another lengthy tea break, Habton were ready a good five minutes before the Fylingdales batters finally emerged.
The Corner brothers took the new ball. Jack bowled from the River Rye End, while Ben delivered his trademark inswingers from the Pavilion End.
We needed a good start – and that's exactly what we got.
Ben struck twice in his opening over, leaving Fylingdales 8-2 by bowling Tucker before producing a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Hayes, clinging onto the ball just above the turf.
There was then a lengthy delay while the incoming batter took his time reaching the crease. It's a shame the umpires didn't start the clock when the previous wicket fell, as he would have been pushing, if not exceeding, his allotted three minutes.
Fylingdales rebuilt before the first major talking point. A risky single to mid-wicket saw Nat Parker scrambling. A perfect pick-up and throw l to keeper Easterby appeared to catch the batter well short, only for the square-leg umpire to somehow give him safe. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he simply wasn't watching... otherwise he might be earning himself a new nickname.
Following a quick umpire swap involving the Whitby contingent, the reprieved batter made full use of his second life. He and the other end added 67 runs, taking Fylingdales from what could – and probably should – have been 27-4 to 88-3 before Bevin, perhaps fuelled by a touch of frustration, finally bowled him through the gate just after drinks in the 15th over.
One fierce straight drive by the batter in question during that partnership unfortunately struck bowler Jack Corner on ankle and forced him out of the attack midway through what would normally have been his full spell.
The next 15 overs drifted by and Rico's absence, sunning himself in Benidorm, left us short of spin. We struggled to tie one end down, although the dismissal of Estill for 33 – thanks to a smart catch by this week's fielder of the match, Jeffers, off JCC – left Fylingdales 114-5.
We all knew it would take one partnership to swing the game, and that's exactly what happened. J. Parker, & the “The Shrimp" everyone’s new favourite umpire, put together a century stand. Fair play to both of them – the runs were there to be scored, and both enjoyed more than their fair share of luck. I can't remember seeing so many aerial shots land safely in the gaps.
The Second talking point was when "The Shrimp" who was eventually first to go. Charging Damo, he skied a full bunger to cow corner where Acorn completed the catch. There was a brief moment of confusion as square leg signalled a no-ball to the standing umpire. The standing umpire dismissed the advice citing the batter had advanced down the pitch thus raising the finger. Out for 26.
Game on. Fylingdales needed 43 more with four wickets in hand and 10 overs remaining.
Another wicket in the following over ramped up the pressure, but every now and again J Parker found another gap and in turn the increasing volume from the plastic chairs over that the pavilion, Rory then removed number nine for 8 to leave Fylingdales wobbling again.
Number ten showed no signs of nerves, stroking his first two deliveries to the boundary. Suddenly they needed just eight to win with two wickets remaining, and the momentum had swung firmly in their favour.
After three consecutive balls where singles were refused, Rory finally found the edge of Parker's bat. A superb innings of 93 came to an end. Well batted.
Three overs remained.
Jord produced a superb maiden in the 43rd over, but Rory had completed his spell. JCC took the ball from the Pavilion End knowing a tight over was essential. A couple of edgy singles followed before one getting clipped off the pads and evaded Damo to run away.
Two required from seven balls.
The field came in... apart from third man.
The scores were soon level following a single to third man.
All attention turned to Jord for the final over. Number eleven stood at the crease. Every fielder crowded around the bat. No third man. It was s**t or bust.
Jord charged in and sent middle stump cartwheeling.
Fylingdales all out for 256.
The game finished tied. Probably a fair refelction of the game desipte the injustest of the earlier incident.
After another marathon afternoon, both teams headed for well-earned refreshments. We made our way to The Grapes, while we presume Fylingdales returned home in time for the England game.
Play-Cricket decided to throw its toys out of the pram, so we're waiting for the admin team to sort the scorecard – hopefully by Monday.
Next week the Gents travel to The Burn, who are unbeaten in their last five matches and currently sit third in the table.
