Play paws-ed at Killinghall as Whixley win CB Atkinson Semi-Final

Wednesday night saw me drive the short distance to Killinghall for the Harrogate & District Amateur Evening Cricket League’s semi-final of the CB Atkinson Trophy between Killinghall and Whixley.

After the end of the recent Old Testament floods, it seems like Noah can park his boat for the time being, as good weather has returned to help dry out cricket grounds around the area.

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Killinghall CC is hidden away behind the village hall, just off one on the main roads that run through the village. It’s certainly one of those grounds that if you didn’t know it was there, then you’d easily miss it

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Walking through the small car park, you enter the cricket club next to the pavilion, looking across the small ground that is bordered on three side by houses, and on the fourth by an impressive line of trees.

Killinghall had won the toss, electing to bat first. I’d been delayed getting to the ground, so turned up as the home team batsmen started their walk to the crease.

Settling down in the shade by the scoreboard, I took in the view of this small ground for the first time this season. The last time I was here, in July 2023, it had rained on and off, causing the players to do the cover dance four or five times.

No chance of that happening this fine Wednesday evening.

Killinghall struggled from the off, finding it difficult to score runs and wickets were falling regularly.

Luke Haidar top scored with 13 from 16 balls before being caught by James Webster off the bowling of James Wade; Adam Wetherall scored 11 from 22 balls; and Billy MacGregor scored 11 from 19.

James Wade was the pick of the bowlers for Whixley getting four wickets for just 13 runs in his four overs.

The highlight of the innings came towards the end as a dog ran to the centre, appearing out of nowhere – maybe having just found his way off the ark – interrupting play as he playfully circled the batsman several times, before being caught and led away.

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The last man was out in just shy of the 17th over, and the home team had only scored 57 runs. Certainly a small score for this particular ground.

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Whixley’s response was emphatic; with big hits from the opening batsmen Edward and William Wade finding boundaries with a few fours and sixes.

As the response mounted, there were calls by Killinghall players to ‘Bring on Radcliffe’…coaxing their captain to make a bowling change, which he duly did.

Then pandemonium as the spinner bowled a beauty, deceiving Whixley’s Patrick Bourke and sending the bails flying. Cue a wild celebration from bowler and fielders. Glorious stuff, and one of those moments of sheer enjoyment that will be relived over a pint or two during the remainder of this season.

Despite this hiccup, there was an inevitability to the result, and Whixley cruised to victory in the ninth over, winning by eight wickets.

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Edward Wade with 23 from 14; William Wade not out, with 20 from 23; and Jack Witham not out, with 13 from seven balls, guided the visitors to an easy win.

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I’ve got to say – the pick of the bowlers was Harvey Radcliffe with his impressive wicket, and to be fair, he almost had a second as well!

Whixley will face either Knaresborough Forest or Studley Royal in the final, due to be held at Bilton Cricket Club on Monday 15th July.

📸 MATCH PHOTOS

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Thanks to Mark for his report and photography from Killinghall CC. Here are his other articles on Cricket Yorkshire.

To check out more of his photography, you can visit caughtlight.com or he’s @caughtlight on Twitter/X. There’s also the Caught Light Photography Facebook page.