Following a successful campaign last year, Middleton CC invited Newport to the recently upgraded Recreation ground on Saturday, but found themselves thwarted in the last over.
With a youthful looking team, Middleton were made to field first on a wicket which looked conducive to the bowlers. Young gun Sam Ullyott and ‘Mr Dependable’, Andy Proctor, were soon making life difficult for the Newport batsmen. However both were un
lucky, with Ullyott finishing wicketless and Proctor picking up only a solitary wicket. Alan Musgrove delivered a probing spell and was rewarded with three wickets and Spikey Hullah, revelling in the conditions, also scalped three victims. Tom Ullyott contributed four tidy overs and took 3-13 to ensure that Newport were all out off the last ball of the innings for 127.
In reply, Middleton suffered early setbacks with Dave Newlove and Tom Ullyott falling cheaply. Opener Shaun Wilson and the reliable John Nesfield (45) both consolidated and looked to be turning the game back into Middleton’s favour. However, Wilson fell for 29 and when Musgrove and McKee’s cameos were brought to an end, Newport appeared to be gaining the momentum again. Still, Middleton required only 10 from the last four overs, but a flurry of wickets meant that they were to fall agonisingly short by two runs in the final over with Proctor and Hickson at the crease.
o Middleton would like to thank matchball sponsors Shaw Motors of Driffield.
The full article contains 245 words and appears in Driffield Post newspaper.
