HCC secure two unbeaten seasons at Church Fenton

Well done on and all

HCC finished their league season with a trip to visit Church Fenton, despite having the 2 season undefeated run on the line, it had an air of end of season dead rubber about it, not aided by Gilbank’s Ute arriving 5 minutes before stumps thanks to Skipper’s expert Satnav reading skills

Saunders got it all wrong at the toss and Fenton decided to bat. Moorhouse and Matthews gave the hosts a steady start, aided and abetted by a lethargic start in the field from HCC, the openers took the score along to 26 before Brian Dunbar jagged one back to clean bowl Mark Moorhouse, Herath Nararatham and Matt Reynolds departed with just one run added both clean bowled by Dave Gilbank and Chris St Clair Whicker respectively.

Opener Matthews and skipper Warren Davis took Fenton into the 40s before Matthews fell bowled by Whicker, the skipper fell with the score on 59 well caught at mid off by Jim Hinks off Nick Saunders, and this combination struck again with to dismiss Toby Strangeway with the score on 65.

Jim Hinks was involved again to run out Josh Jordan when an attempted sharp two saw Jim launch a good throw in over the stumps and the Fenton batsmen was well short of his ground and Steve Manton whipping off the bails

Dave Gilbank clean bowled the prolific Ash Richardson, Stelfox dismissed Wilkinson aided by a good diving catch from Chris St Clair Whicker, Gilbank finished things off with another victim clean bowled as Fenton finished on 108 all out

Frosdick and Filipowicz had their calculators out at the interval to work out the possibilities, and there were hushed talks of possible attempts at running each other out to stitch up the averages, but the pair did what they have done brilliantly all season , scoring runs.

The pair offered little in the way of chances and motored home to victory in good time, Matt Frosdick finishing it with the last ball of the 18th over smashing a 6 onto the pavilion roof to reach his 50 in style and see HCC home, Andrew Filipowicz finishing on 40 not out in another impeccable knock

Job done – special mentions on the day to Jim Hinks who led the way in the field, and Dave Gilbank who has taken 10-85 in 3 appearances and has added some impetuous, energy and grunt in some of the game since the title was bagged.

It was a nice way to sign off from Division 5 in a well contested but well humoured game against the nice bunch of fellas from Church Fenton who’s younger players gave a really good account of themselves.

HCC move on to Joe Dews Cup final matters on Sunday