10th September 2022 – 1st XI v Green Lane (A)
Steeton travelled to Green Lane’s Nunroyd Park ground for the last match of the season. Skipper Steve Pearson won the toss and chose to bat first…a decision which was justified by an excellent 87-run opening partnership. Opener Cameron Knowles had made the major contribution as he finished the season with a half-century: Cameron’s 53 runs coming from 55 deliveries with 1 six & 9 fours. His opening partner was prolific Australian Jack Ramage who top-scored with 62 runs scored from 70 balls with 1 six & 11 fours – this brings his runs total for all matches in the 2022 season for the club to 1,453 runs, including 5 centuries. Jack also added 83 runs for the 2nd wicket partnership with Louis Horsfield, who also scored a half-century – his 51 runs coming from 56 deliveries with 2 sixes & 6 fours. The good scoring continued with Will Smith chipping in with 19 runs, before another sizeable contribution by captain fantastic Steve Pearson. Steve scored an unbeaten 48* runs from 53 deliveries with 2 sixes & 4 fours – this brings Steve’s runs total for all matches in the 2022 season for the club to 968 runs. Steve also added 69 runs for the 7th wicket partnership with James Robinson, who contributed 19 runs. Steeton closed with a considerable 273 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 50 overs.
In reply Steeton took wickets regularly and the Steeton target never looked under threat. Chief wicket-taker was James McDonald, who finished with a great 5-wicket haul. James took 5 wickets for 37 runs from 15 overs, with 2 catches taken by keeper Will Smith as well as outfield catches taken by Louis Horsfield & Adam Hardwick. Max Harrison was not far behind with a fabulous 4 wicket return…his 4 wickets coming from 7 overs that conceded 21 runs, with 2 catches taken by Australian Jack Ramage as well as a 2nd for Louis Horsfield and a 3rd catch for keeper Will Smith. The final wicket was tidied up by off-spinner Cameron Knowles (1-4) with a catch taken by Ewan Johnston. A good catching display saw Steeton collect 9 catches in total. Green Lane had been caught out for a mere 87 runs in 30.3 overs. Steeton (20 points) beat Green Lane (3 points) by 186 runs.
James McDonald is my Man-of-the-Match
10th September 2022 – 2nd XI v Bolton Villas (H)
Steeton go into the final match of the 2022 season as division leaders…but only a precarious 5 points clear of their nearest rivals Bilton. To be promoted as division champions they not only needed to win, but to win well! Steeton were entertaining lowly Bolton Villas on a fine day at Summerhill Lane. Skipper Simon Cox lost the toss and Bolton Villas chose to bat first. Matthew Nutter ripped through the top-order with none of the top 6 batsmen able to manage double figures. Matt finished with great figures of 6 wickets for 27 runs from 13 overs, with catches taken by keeper Max Hibbert, a caught & bowled, Craig Walton and a fine catch at point by Gary Boulton. Gary was awarded a fielding point. Opening bowler David Wynn bowled 13 tight overs which only conceded 15 runs as he collected a single wicket, with a catch taken by Richard Nichols. Ryan Ridehalgh (1-17) had a catch taken by skipper Simon Cox, but the last 2 wickets fell to Jake Hill, who bowled 2.1 overs for 3 runs with 2 wickets. Bolton Villas had been skittled for a mere 76 runs in 31.1 overs.
In reply Steeton’s batting was again masterful. The only blemish was skipper Simon Cox, who was stumped for 15 runs from 23 ball with 3 boundaries with the Steeton total on 43 runs. Opening partner Richard Nichols scored an unbeaten 34* runs from 51 deliveries with 7 boundaries and the prolific John Akrigg scored 14* runs not out from 15 balls with 2 boundaries. Steeton passed the lowly Bolton Villas target in just the 15 over. Steeton had scored 79 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in 14.4 overs. Steeton (20 points) beat Bolton Villas (0 points) by 9 wickets. Steeton are promoted to the 4th division as champions. What a great season!
Matthew Nutter is my Man-of-the-Match
11th September 2022 – 3rd XI v Calverley (A)
Steeton travelled to Calverley’s Victoria Park ground as division leaders but knowing that mathematically they could be caught. A good performance was necessary, but they also wanted to maintain their ‘invincible’ title as they were unbeaten in the league this season. Skipper James Nowell lost the toss and Calverley asked them to bat first. All did not go to plan as both openers were back in he pavilion with just 3 runs on the board. Max Harrison scored 31 runs from 28 deliveries with 6 boundaries, but when he was given out LBW Steeton were looking nervous at 49 runs for 4 wickets. The team’s nerves were settled by an excellent 66-run 5th wicket partnership between Max Hibbert and Tom Meakin. Tom was clean bowled for 27 runs from 40 balls with 4 fours and a massive six! In the 27th over Steeton lost their 6th wicket and had 142 runs. Max Hibbert had completed a good half-century and was joined by 12-year-old Archie Cox. Together Max & Archie added a superb 69 runs for an unbroken 7th wicket partnership. At the close Archie had scored a 28* runs not out from 49 balls with 3 boundaries; whereas Max Hibbert had scored a tremendous unbeaten 101* runs from 99 deliveries with 14 boundaries. In the context of the importance of this game and the situation when he arrived at the crease, this was a truly sensational innings. After their 40 overs, thanks largely to Max Hibbert, Steeton had registered 211 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Full 5 batting points for Steeton and Calverley would have to score at over 5¼ runs per over to challenge this target.
In reply Steeton’s opening bowlers took good early wickets to put Calverley on the back foot at 59 runs with 5 wickets down. Ben Yeadon took 2 wickets for 36 runs from 8 overs; while Caleb Gledhill took 3 wickets for 32 runs from 6 overs, with a fantastic diving, one-handed catch at midwicket by Archie Smith. Archie was quite rightly awarded a fielding point. Tom Meakin (1-13) and Bradley Akrigg (1-17) nipped out a single wicket each as Calverley were further reduced to 99 runs with 7 wickets down in their 24th over, and the required run rate had risen to 7 runs per over. . Steeton had now collected sufficient points to ensure they were going to be promoted as division champions and so skipper James Nowell eased off and gave less regular bowlers a turn. In all 9 different bowlers were used. The successful bowlers were skipper James Nowell (1-6) and Archie Smith (1-0) with both wickets being caught by Max Harrison…his 2nd being a nicely judged low slip catch. Max Harrison was also rightly awarded a fielding point. Steeton were only able to extract 9 batsmen as Calverley finished with 152 runs for 9 wickets in their 40 overs. Steeton (19 points) beat Calverley St Wilfrids (7 points) by 59 runs and finished top of the 2nd division.
Max Hibbert is my Man-of-the-Match
