1st XI vs Thirsk CC, 1st XI

The 1st team began their season with an away fixture at Thirsk, marking a return to action and the welcome reappearance of last year’s overseas player, Tom Whitty.

After losing the toss, Bolton Percy were put into bat on a surface that offered early encouragement to the bowlers. BP made a steady start, looking to build a platform, but Thirsk’s disciplined attack soon applied pressure. A cluster of quick wickets halted early momentum, and tight bowling through the middle overs made run-scoring difficult.

The innings was rebuilt impressively by Ed Noble and Sammy Clews, who showed composure and resilience at the crease. Noble fell just short of a half-century with a well-made 49, while Clews contributed a valuable 44. Their partnership proved crucial in giving Bolton Percy something to defend, eventually posting a competitive total of 210.

In response, Thirsk came out aggressively, putting the Bolton Percy bowlers under immediate pressure with a fast start that shifted the balance of the game. However, a superb second spell from Ben McWalter brought the visitors right back into contention. Bowling with pace and accuracy, McWalter claimed an outstanding five-wicket haul, dragging Bolton Percy into the contest and raising hopes of a turnaround.

Despite the fightback, Thirsk maintained enough composure to chase down the target, reaching 210 for 7 to secure victory. While the result didn’t go BPs way, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance—particularly the middle-order resilience and McWalter’s resilient second spell.

The 2nd team will have to wait until next week to get their campaign up and running. Newly appointed 2nd team skipper Darren Shaw, had the troops well prepared and ready to go, before an unfortunate concession from the opposition.

We look forward to the season ahead, and we hope to see you all throughout the year supporting BP.