Run chase runs over as Adwalton fall to Woodkirk

On the day that England played their opening match of World Cup 2010, the Central Yorkshire League Division Four fixtures brought local rivals Woodkirk to Moorside Vale in an eagerly anticipated and potentially important match for both sides.

It was a warm but pleasant day, and both sides arrived with a selection of players firmly focused on the football. Not so much South Korea’s midday clash with Greece, but the prospect of England vs USA in the evening, and whether a long day of cricket would intrude on their plans.

The toss was won by the visitors who elected to bat first, a decision which initially seemed to have backfired as the openers fell quickly to the bowling of Matthew Lyles and Tom Leeming. But youngster Tom Mabbott dug in, overcoming a difficult period of bowling from Lyles to score a hard earned 54. Supporting him was Mark Addinall, who top scored with 89 after taking advantage of some loose fielding and guiding his team to a total of 288 from the 50 overs.

Up against it Adwalton came out fighting, and Graham Johnson continued his run of good starts. But wickets quickly fell at the other end and it was captain Mark Palfreeman who came in and steadied the ship, supporting Johnson and scoring a quick 52. But his cavalier approach eventually got the better of him as he was bowled by opener Richard Oldroyd. That was not the end of the resistance however as Nick Gowland continued where Palfreeman had left off racing to 70 as Andrew Ingham notched his season high of 44 at the other end. But after three consecutive sixes, the umpire was all too quick to trigger a dubious leg before wicket shout, ending Gowland’s innings and effectively also ending the Adwalton charge.

By kick off time Adwalton were close to the 288 total, finishing only 20 runs behind in an agonisingly close attempt to beat the odds and chalk up a win. The first result of what was to be a frustrating day, both for Adwalton’s cricketers and followers football.