Skipper Tom Steyert shines in Whitby CC’s home loss against high-flyers Marton 2nds

Whitby CC 1sts lost by four wickets at home to Division 2 title-chasers Marton 2nds in a low-scoring North Yorkshire South Durham Cricket League contest on Saturday afternoon.

Visiting captain Matthew Hutchinson won the toss and chose to field first at The Turnbull Ground.

Whitby CC 1sts, Back, from left, Pauline Russell, Mike Thompson, Lewis Brearley, Rhys Buck, Andrew Wood, Ben Braim, Steve Allen. Front, Jack Allanson, Chris Knight, Tom Steyert (Captain), Kai Morris and Will Richardson. Photo by Brian Murfield

placeholder image — Whitby CC 1sts, Back, from left, Pauline Russell, Mike Thompson, Lewis Brearley, Rhys Buck, Andrew Wood, Ben Braim, Steve Allen. Front, Jack Allanson, Chris Knight, Tom Steyert (Captain), Kai Morris and Will Richardson. Photo by Brian Murfield

No Whitby batsman made it past the 20-run mark as the hosts struggled to get going against accurate bowling from the visitors.

At 44-6, it looked like the game would be over very quickly, opener Alf Jacobs (13) the only batsman to reach double figures in the top five.

Former skipper Kai Morris dug deep to score 19 from 30 balls and help keep the home side in with a chance of posting a competitive total, but they then slipped to 88-9 until Mark Jackson (11) and number 11 Matthew Sharpe (19no in 15 balls) shared a final-wicket stand of 32 to help the hosts limp to 120 all out in 33.5 overs.

Henry Baldam took a superb 4-26 and Alex Wardell a brilliant 4-56 for the visitors.

Whitby then started superbly with the ball to send Marton crashing to 19-4 after 8.1 overs, and an unlikely victory seemed possible for the hosts thanks to top bowling from skipper Tom Steyert, who took three of these wickets.

Wardell then came to the rescue with the bat to cap a superb all-round show, hitting 46no, with help from Dan O’Gara (18) and captain Hutchinson (12no) as they reached 122-6 in 29.3 overs.

Steyert finished with impressive figures of 4-46, with Michael Thompson and Sharpe taking a wicket apiece.

Whitby 1sts head to Wolviston this Saturday.

Whitby 2nds lost by three wickets at Billingham Synthonia 2nds in an even lower-scoring contest in Division 3.

The visitors never got going with the bat and crumbled to 67 all out in 25.1 overs, Oliver Lane (23) and Ben Braim (13) the only Whitby batsmen to reach double figures.

Whitby’s bowlers also dominated as they reduced the hosts to 19-4, Stephen Crowther snapping up 3-27 from his 10 overs.

Haider Ramzan (17) and Simon Driver (16) steadied the ship before they were dismissed by Jay Allison and Steven Allen respectively to reach 43-6. Skipper Robson James’ 19no then helped the hosts limp to 70-7 in 32.2 overs, captain Ricky Hall taking 2-17.

The 2nds play host to second-from-bottom Rockliffe Park 2nds this Saturday.