Magnificent Max steers Flixton to Hospital Cup final triumph
All-rounder Harland sparkles as Flixton see off YPLN rivals Pickering at Scarborough CC
All-rounder Max Harland was the star performer as Folkton & Flixton defeated Pickering by53 runs to win the Scarborough Hospital Cup final at North Marine Road on Friday night.
Flixton claimed their 14th Hospital Cup win following a resounding win over YPLN championship rivals Pickering in front of an appreciative crowd.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Flixton’s openers Max Harland and Stuart Stocks started aggressively putting 45 on for the first wicket in 5.4 overs but the introduction of experienced all-rounder Dave Greenlay stemmed the flow of runs.
Flixton skipper Harry Walmsley hit 22 and Max Harland 44 (45 balls) but both fell to Greenlay in quick succession to leave them with 96-3 with Greenlay taking 3-18 from his 5 overs.
Pickering’s fine fielding was highlighted by an astonishing catch on the popular bank boundary by captain Tim Whincup to dismiss Will Hutchinson however, some late explosive hitting from Connor Stephenson (23) took the score to a highly competitive 147-7 from their allotted 20 overs.
Left-arm seamer Luke Shepherd chipped in with 2-31 in a fine spell.
Pickering’s reply started dramatically with Chris Mann (2-24) making early inroads as they slumped to 18-3.
Keeper-batter Ryan Taylor led a recovery alongside Joe Harland, moving their side to 67-3 at the halfway point but
Flixton’s fielding matched their opponents first innings efforts.
Taylor fell for a busy 34, cleaned bowled by Charlie Colley but once Joe Harland was dismissed for 28 Pickering’s hopes disappeared.
Elliot Hatton took full advantage, with the spinner taking a superb 4-14 but the final wicket was claimed by Max Harland who finished wih an excellent 3-16 as Pickering were bowled out for 94 in 17.3 overs.
Max Harland won the Paul Blackborrow Memorial Player of the Match Award for his superb all round display and skipper Harry Walmsley collected the historic cup from competition President Mick Blackborrow, who also presented a £1,000 cheque from money raised throughout the summer to Mrs Eleanor Paterson of the Scarborough Hospital League of Friends.