Appalling weather west of the Pennines brought into question whether or not to make the 2 hour trip to Escrick at all. After several calls and a Met Office update, we travelled more out of hope than expectation. We arrived in a heavy downpour which soon moved on to be replaced by light drizzle and agreed on a delayed start time of 12.25 with 20 overs from 6pm.
Cryptics won the toss and decided to bat. A good start of 84 for 1 off 14 overs was spoilt by the loss of a couple of wickets just before lunch and three soon after. 84-1 moved to 102-6 before Gous joined Cann in the middle to settle things down. Cann 42* and Gous 93* took the total up to 243-6 at which point the declaration was made.
The CG's reply was strong and steady. After the loss of an early wicket, a 1st wicket partnership of 98 put them in control, but good ground fielding and tight bowling kept the run rate above 5 an over. Wickets however were not falling quickly enough and the chances of a win were unlikely going into the final hour. At the start of the final over CG's were 229-6 needing 15 from the final over to win. They finished on 239-7 to complete a great day's cricket, when earlier on it was unlikely a ball would have been bowled all day.

Cryptics

243 for 6 dec (44 overs)

(AGS Gous 93*, Julian Cann 42*, B Faber 52, H Killern 3-21)

Gentlemen of Cheshire

239 for 7 (43 overs)

(D Welbourne 64, H Killern 73, S Treen 34, AGS Gous 4-70)