#killinghall

I'll be honest, it wasn't our first choice destination on Wednesday...but as I turned into the entrance of the chosen game, we were confronted by a roller sitting in the middle of the pitch and not a sight-nor-sound of leather on willow.

So, there was a quick re-evaluation of our destination and the decision was made to go to Dacre Banks for their crucial game against Killinghall - both teams finding themselves in danger of relegation on this last day of the Harrogate & District Amateur Evening Cricket League.

Now anyone reading these few words wanting a match report - I'm sorry, that's not what is going to happen here. Huge spoiler alert - Killinghall won to retain their Division Two status, and Dacre Banks had the ignominy of ending the season at the bottom of the table.

Sorry about that...but I didn't want to bring you here on false pretences. So why the words?

Well, I think that after about 14 years of covering the local leagues, I have to admit that the HDAECL is probably my favourite league to cover.

Why? It isn't taken that seriously...well, that's probably a little unfair. It is taken seriously, but it is the league that is probably enjoyed the most by the players that take part.

They seem to enjoy it more partly because it isn't one of the Saturday leagues, or Sunday cup games...the teams can relax and enjoy playing cricket, for playing cricket's sake.

That's how it comes across to people sitting on the boundary - there are smiles, jokes, friendly goading, players winding each other up, and generally fun being had.

So it is with some sadness that this last Wednesday evening was the final round of games for 2024. Roll on 2025.

A couple of weeks ago, I was watching planes fly low over the Rufforth game, this weekend it was the feathery kind of flight that was swooping low over Killinghall's ground.

A majestic sight flying less than 30 feet above our heads as the visitors Masham CC tried to chase down the total set for them.

Perhaps the title is a little bit of clickbait...apologies! But this hunter was keeping a keen eye on all of us as it went about looking for lunch!

Rain had delayed the start of this game and ultimately reduced the total number of overs played at this small, intimate ground positioned in the heart of the village.

The home team had set about their batting task with some gusto, reaching 194 for nine in 30 overs before a quick turnaround to try and beat the rather inclement conditions.

Masham looked in the mood to overhaul the total, but found it more difficult to reach the boundaries, and there weren't as many searches for the ball in the surrounding bushes and trees during the second innings as there had been during the first.

Unfortunately, a prior engagement meant I had to leave with ten overs remaining - apologies, this isn't a normal thing I do - but it was dawning on the spectators that the visitors would fall just short and so it proved.

Masham finished on 163 for nine in their allotted 30 overs, with the home team winning the Theakston Nidderdale Division One league game by 30 runs.

I haven't been to this ground since before Covid...in fact it was one of the last grounds I visited in the summer of 2019 and is certainly one that I would recommend visiting.

Over the few years preceding 2019, the open views of fields from the pavilion have been replaced by a new set of houses and mean that the ground is now closed in on all sides.

One of the new neighbours has even got their own window 'impact protection system'...and I spent a few minutes watching him installing it as the Killinghall batsmen stroked the ball around the ground.

I suppose the few minutes it takes to put up the metal guards over the windows is rewarded by not having the cost of replacing broken glass on a regular basis.

The only real downside about visiting the ground is parking - which can be a challenge. I usually end up leaving the car in one of the roads nearby and walking up to the ground, but that is a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.