The best club cricket match ever

What started as a wet outfield and pitch turned out to provide a fascinating contest between bat and ball today in the Airedale Wharfedale Senior Cricket league today. It was North Leeds CC - 2nd XI Vs Steeton CC - 2nd XI at North Leeds on a eventful Saturday afternoon. The overnight and early morning rain had left much water that got underneath the covers and it took the umpires no less than 3 inspections to get the match underway in overcast conditions at 2:30 pm. North Leeds made good use of the conditions to get some early wickets and Steeton progressed in a steady manner to score 147 for 8 in their reduced 35 overs. The highlight of this innings was a sedate 47 by Aatif Modak.

After what a a grand tea laid out by North Leeds, Steeton began their bowling with U13 player Jack Luxton at one end and Josh Gill on the other. They were gifted an early wicket as the ball stopped to give Josh a return catch. However, Steeton could not contain the rush of runs as North Leeds were off to a flier scoring at a brisk pace of nearly 7 an over for their first 10 overs. However, once their in form batsman Ben Cawood got out to another return catch after a brisk half century, things started turning the other way. Soon, the slow dilly dobbly medium pace of their captain Gary and Luke Watson started creating problems for the North Leeds batsmen as they could manage a mere 9 runs between overs 15 and 22. And, soon they started losing wickets too. The required run rate steadily climbed to more than 4 an over. Eventually, though it was down to the last over of the match with 1 wicket left and 2 runs to get. The first 3 balls of the 35th over were dot balls as fielders surrounded the bat. Then, a single of the 4th ball had the two teams tied. The 11th man dug out the 5th delivery for no run. It was down to the last ball of the match, as the 6th delivery was hit straight to the fielder, and the batsmen attempted a non existent single to result in a tied match.

Scores -
North Leeds CC - 2nd XI
147 all out (35.0 overs)
Steeton CC - 2nd XI
147 for 8 (35.0 overs)

Detailed scorecard of this dramatic match available at:
http://awscl.play-cricket.com/website/results/2888169