THE FEVERSHAM Cricket League breathed a collective sigh of relief when at the fourth attempt the top four semi-final and final managed to be played, both on the same day at Duncombe Park CC’s ground.

Harome and High Farndale were scheduled to contest the semi-final on Wombleton’s ground, but that failed a pitch inspection, as did the first alternative, Gillamoor. Duncombe Park came to the rescue, but it was only at the 11th hour, literally, that the groundsman, Alan Kent, was able to give the go-ahead.

Time constraints restricted the semi final to 12 overs a side. Given that High Farndale openers Brian Leckenby (30) and Kevin Wilson (17) blasted 41 runs off the first two overs, their final total of 87-6 was something of an anti-climax and owed much to the accuracy of the first and succeeding change Harome bowlers, Phil Rutter (2-7) in particular, who managed to put a brake on the High Farndale scoring.

Harome had a scare when their prolific opener Jon Pickard, on whom much depended, was dropped on the boundary first ball.

Pickard and Josh Greenlay put on 34 for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed for 17 in the fifth over.

With three overs remaining, Harome required 28 runs for victory with eight wickets in hand. Then came the decisive moment, Pickard on 24 falling to a brilliant boundary catch by Paul Lawton, which won him the man of the match award, off Craig Sunley’s bowling.

Thereafter Harome’s challenge faded, and although James Greenlay (13 not out) tried manfully to wrest back the initiative it was to avail, and Harome ended on 75-4, still 12 runs adrift. Chris Wilson (1- 15) had the best bowling figures.

A brief pause and High Farndale returned to the fray meeting Spout House, who hadn’t played for five weeks, in the 16 overs a side final.

Spout House’s understandable rustiness was quickly apparent when High Farndale openers Brian Leckenby and Kevin Wilson soon got into their stride, looking comfortable against rather innocuous bowling.

Strangely enough given their respective batting talents, these two rarely put together a substantial partnership. Unfortunately for Spout House this occasion proved an exception. After seven overs the scoreboard read 53-0, both batsmen on 24.

The ninth over brought a change of bowling, not that inhibited Leckenby and Wilson who plundered 23 runs from it. The luckless bowler shall be nameless.

The carnage continued unabated until the first ball of the eleventh over when Wilson, with the total on 92 and after hitting four sixes, was caught by Mark Farrar off James Allison for 41.

It’s part of cricketing mythology that a batsman waiting patiently for seemingly ages to go in next often fails to trouble the scorers when the opportunity eventually comes.

Mythology became reality for the luckless Jim Blacklock as he faced just two balls from Allison before slicing to Chris Brass at backward point.

Leckenby brought up his 50 with a most peculiar shot which steepled back over his head, and then Billy Hague was bowled by James Thompson for 7. Craig Sunley (10 not out) proved that six hitting was not the sole prerogative of Wilson and Leckenby (who hit six of them) as High Farndale closed on a virtually unassailable 143-3, Leckenby remaining undefeated for a most entertaining 72. Allison bowled well with figures of 2-19.

Faced with what can only be described as mission impossible, Spout House probably set themselves a more realistic target of achieving respectability. In the third over Robin Garbutt, after launching a legside six, snicked behind to wicket keeper Kevin Wilson off Paul Lawton for 7. The same bowler (2-23) also accounted for Anthony Plowman, comprehensively bowled for 11 also after hitting an effortless six.

The required run rate steadily increased, but a pleasing third wicket partnership developed between Dan Smith and James Allison.

The latter even had the temerity to smash three sixes off the 11th over. Sadly for Spout House just as High Farndale began to show signs of unease, Smith, the non-striker, called for an impossible single and duly paid the penalty.

The High Farndale captain then produced a masterstroke in bringing on eleven year old Adam Leckenby to bowl and he exceeded expectations by snapping up the prized wicket of Allison, caught by Blacklock attempting another big heave for a most valliant innings of 30. Another Leckenby, Jonathan this time, got into the act by taking a superb one handed boundary catch on the run off Craig Sunley to dismiss Farrar for 2.

Scott Plowman, a future prospect, showed sound technique in remaining undefeated on 19, while John Thompson was not out for four as Spout House closed on a perfectly reasonable total in the circumstances of 111-5.

At the post match ceremonie,s thanks were expressed to the two umpires who officiated the final, John Hatfield and Mark Foster and to Duncombe Park CC for the use of their ground. Colin Humpleby, the Duncombe Park CC secretary, presented the cup to the High Farndale captain Kevin Wilson, and the man of the match award to Brian Leckenby.

Presentations were also made to the Slingsby team captain John Hatfield for wining the League and to Jon Pickard in absentia (highest score) and Dan Durrant (best bowling).