YP Schools Challenge: Holmfirth finish third as Dawson intervenes

Holmfirth supporters cheer on their school.

Holmfirth were skittled for just 99 as part of a crushing nine-wicket semi-final loss to eventual winners Ilkley yet against Lady Lumley’s they roared to 53 without loss. Key to that solid start were the 27 runs contributed by Dan Parr as well as the 18 posted by Zak Sleney.

But when this duo were removed by Dan Tomlinson and Harrison Wood respectively, the Holmfirth progress began to stutter.

Ella Harris (7), Bailey Bedford (4) and Tom Clegg (9no) failed to get past double figures but Shaun Dawson’s knock of 25 helped turn 72-4 into 102-5.

Dawson was eventually run out but with 17 extras added, Lady Lumley’s were set 114-6 for victory.

Openers Will Hutchinson (10) and Joe Harland (22) took the initiative, seeing Lumley’s progress to 26-0.

Harrison Wood then added another 17 before becoming the first of two Shaun Dawson victims.

But Lady Lumley’s problem concerned running out of overs with Matthew Shepherd’s dismissal for 10 leaving them 99-5 – only 15 short of their target – but with less than two overs remaining.

Bedford was in no mood to let the Holmfirth advantage slip as he removed both Tom Fletcher-Varey (4) and Joe Harris (0) to complete a four-wicket haul.

Lady Lumley’s ultimately finished nine shy of their target at 105-8 – with wickets in hand but out of overs as Holmfirth sealed third place around 20 minutes after the conclusion of the thrilling final played on the adjacent pitch.