Sessay’s 1st XI made the trip to Pannal, where the winless hosts elected to bat first after winning the toss. They lost an early wicket when Liam Carver bowled opener Shaw for a duck, but Pannal responded well with Andrew Ellis handing out some uncharacteristic punishment to Stuart Peirse, driving the experienced seamer over the top for a four and a six in only the 3rd over. Although he survived a couple of sharp chances, Ellis continued his liking to Peirse with more boundaries, and had already taken 3 boundaries from Peirse’s 5th over before he was well caught at long on by Mark Jackson. Peirse struck again in his next one when he bowled Rob Ellis, and after the consistent Liam Carver had taken his second wicket, Sessay turned to spin. Alfie Spencer and Stephen Langstaff then worked their way through the Pannal middle and lower order, each taking 3 wickets, as Sessay caught well to bundle out the hosts for 89 despite Moses John, 9th out, putting up some resistance with 23.

Sessay’s reply saw them in some discomfort as Mark Jackson was bowled in the third over, and although Craig Ross and Tom Wilkinson took the score to 40, both were bowled in successive overs by Noah Melling to leave Sessay on 41 for 3. Matthew Wass survived a straightforward chance at mid off as Pannal sensed a shock result in the offing, but Wass then took a toll of off spinner Rob Ellis, straight driving him for 6 and taking 16 from Ellis’s 5th over. Stuart Clark supported well and the pair had taken Sessay to the brink of victory when Wass was bowled by 25, with Clark 13 not out as Sessay won in the 20th over, moments before a downpour which would at the very least caused a long delay.

Sessay won by 6 wickets

Sessay’s 2nd XI batted first when they entertained Knaresborough in a contest reduced to a maximum of 36 overs per side. They were soon in trouble, losing two wickets in the third over. First in form Chris Till was well caught at long leg, and two balls later there was a needless run out when James Skelton was short of his ground after a direct hit by Knaresborough’s Paul Robinson. Worse was to follow when Dave Johnson, making a welcome return to Sessay action after an absence of 5 years, was bowled to leave the hosts on 4 for 3. Paul Flintoff and Nick Thorne battled hard to get Sessay back into the game, but Thorne was bowled for 19 with the score on 46 and Sessay’s middle order then succumbed to Tashmial Henry and Andy Ward, slumping to 55 for 7 when Paul Flintoff, having dug in well, was bowled for 23 attempting an ambitious ramp shot. Ben Scaling and James Easton, flourished briefly, but Sessay were all out for 91 with more than 2 overs of their innings unused.

The Knaresborough reply began with Andy Ward doing all the early scoring, and the score had reached 33 in the 8th over when Sessay broke through, Archie Powell having the still scoreless Greg Pickles caught by Ben Scaling. Sessay built on this glimmer of hope immediately when youngster Powell trapped Tashmial Henry lbw first ball, and in the next over Dave Johnson rolled back the years as he had Andy Ward caught for 36 before bowling Toby Giddings, to leave Knaresborough wobbling on 38 for 4, having lost 4 wickets in the space of 8 balls. Dave Girling and Nigel Martyn then used their experience to blunt the Sessay charge, and gradually Girling began to find the boundary and the runs came steadily as Knaresborough won in the 21st over, Girling showing his class with an unbeaten 41.

Knaresborough won by 6 wickets

Sessay’s 3rd XI home fixture against Alne 2nds was conceded by the visitors.

Fixtures Saturday August 29th

Sessay 1st XI v Sessay 2nd Xi 1.00 pm

Goldsborough 2nd Xi v Sessay 3rd XI 1.30 pm

Keith Houlston