Yorkshire's first trophy of 2019.
Malta Seniors Cricket Festival 2019.
Yorkshire Ridings over 60s competed in the pre-season Malta Seniors Festival and returned carrying the impressive glass trophy, having beaten Norfolk in the final, becoming the first Yorkshire team to win a trophy in 2019..
The competition is run on a 30 overs basis between invited counties, with two section games, a semi final and final. Malta are ICC members, and the competition is run annually to help develop cricket on the island.
In the first game, against Bedfordshire, Neville Allan showed Ridings' intentions, with a 79-ball hundred, with Miles Rawlings (73*), Alan Lees (15) and Nigel Ling (19*) combined to post 217 for 2. Bedfordshire’s reply never really got going, with Tony Evans and Andrew Mackle conceding less than 20 runs in the first eight overs, and the innings petered out at 85 for eight, with Ron Davies' 3 for 7 and two wickets each for Jeff Dinsdale and Gary Orrell.
The second game, against Sussex, continued the run fest. This time it was Mackle who made the century, which he achieved off the last ball of the innings, supported by Orrell (30), Lees (41) and Allen (27 *) in a total of 208 for 3. Sussex could not match the required run rate, and closed on 139 for 5, with one wicket each for Evans, Mackle, Chapman, Dinsdale and Orrell.
In the semi-final, against Essex, the run fest appeared to have come to an end. Ridings slumped to 24 for 3, and, at the halfway point, were only 45 for 3. But then an 82-run partnership between Mackle and Orrell (30) took the score to 108 with seven overs left. Some frenetic running between the wickets between Mackle (82*) and Ling together with some lusty blows from Mackle took the score to 162 for 4, in a remarkable recovery. Ridings then maintained the momentum, with Mackle (3 for 15) and Evans (2 for 19), each from 6 overs, taking the heart out of the Essex batting, with Chapman (1 for 19), Dinsdale (2 for 29) and John Suddards (1 for 7) completing the job, leaving Essex 110 all out. This was the first time a side had been completely bowled out in the competition’s history.
The final was played against Norfolk on a cold and wet day. This time, Ridings fielded first and a competent bowling and fielding performance restricted Norfolk to 123 for 5, never recovering from being 9 for 2. Evans bowled outstandingly with 3 for 20, with wickets for Chapman and Dinsdale. In reply, Ridings were in serious trouble when both openers were dismissed cheaply, but from 12 for 2, Mackle and Lees added 112 in a partnership that started circumspectly, but then developed with flowing batting, and took Ridings to a comfortable 8 wicket win off 25 overs.
At the Competition Presentation Dinner, Andrew Mackle was awarded the Player of the Competition Award, with Tony Evans winning the Bowling Award. In an emotional presentation at the end of the dinner, Chairman Nigel Ling handed the trophy to Mrs Pauline Todd for safe keeping as Ridings' first trophy. Mrs Todd is the widow of Dave Todd who did so much to manage and develop seniors representative cricket in the county.
A huge well done to our Yorkshire Ridings over 60s. Doing all of Yorkshire proud!