Saturday saw Humbleton CC host league leaders Hull Zingari in their final home game of the season, with the visitors looking to seal the league title.
After winning the toss and electing to field, the home side started strongly with young James Hebb and the experienced Josh Styche leading the attack.
In the seventh over, Hebb produced what could be described as the ball of the season – a slower-ball inswinging yorker that beat his opponent all ends up, crashing into middle stump and leaving the visitors at 19-1.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the visitors then raced to 76 before Andy Johnson struck with two quick wickets. Despite managing to take regular wickets thereafter, Zingari’s young opening batsman remained resolute and kept them on track for a substantial score.
Johnson added another two wickets to finish with impressive figures of 4-37, while Hebb and fellow youngster Will Kitching took a wicket apiece. The visitors were restricted to 225 from their 40 overs.
Once again, the Rams’ fielding was top-notch, with catches from Hebb, Porter, Johnson, Styche and Robin Kitching supporting the bowling attack. Excellent ground fielding from John Turnbull, Brett North, and Paul Booth, combined with a tidy display behind the stumps by stand-in keeper Kris Renwick, kept the home side in the game.
However, as the final ball of the innings was bowled, the heavens opened. A 10-minute shower saw the end of proceedings, not giving the home side a chance to chase down the target they believed was within reach.
While the visitors enjoyed their coronation chicken sandwiches, the rain confirmed them as league champions, and with no prospect of further play, the game was abandoned, completing the Rams’ home campaign.
The final game of the season sees the Rams travel to Skidby to meet the newly crowned league champions for the second successive Saturday, hoping to finish the season on a positive note against the title holders.
