Harland and Hopper shine as Walmsley wins first game as Flixton skipper

New Flixton skipper Harry Walmsley in action during the 2018 National Village Cup final victory at Lord's. He leads his side into their NVC campaign on Sunday against Ebberston. Picture by Will Palmer.

Driffield skipper Kevin Woodcock won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision he must have been regretting when he was clean bowled by Connor Stephenson from the very first delivery of the match.

The hosts recovered though and 65 from Jack Riley and 51 from Jack Oakley helped them post 204-8.

Seventeen-year-old Max Harland, on loan from Pickering, shone with the ball for Flixton, bagging 4-33 from a superb seven-over spell, with Stephenson taking a further two wickets to finish with 3-38.

Another youthful addition in Edward Hopper impressed with the bat at the top of the order in the Flixton reply, which was hampered by a 12-over rain delay - resulting in a revised target of 143 off 28 overs.

Hopper made 31 from 42 balls, and after Will Hutchinson (21) and Tom Norman (19) came and went without pushing on, Harland and skipper Harry Walmsley eased their side over the line with 15 and 17 respectively.

Flixton will bid to continue their solid start to the 2020 season when they host Bridlington this coming Saturday.

That is followed by a National Village Knockout Cup encounter against Scarborough Beckett League Premier Division outfit Ebberston on Sunday afternoon, 1pm start.