Driffield 1st XI rounded off their 2014 Yorkshire League campaign with a nail-biting two-run victory against Sheffield Collegiate at Abbeydale Sports Club on Saturday.
After winning the toss, Dave Brent elected to bat first and his side rewarded his decision as they made their way to a score of 259-6 from their 55 overs.
Driffield’s chief run-scorer was Pakistani Ali Asad who, in his final game before flying back to his native country, made an unbeaten 125, his highest score during his season in England.
Asad’s marathon innings propelled him up to second in the league’s run statistics, and Driffield supporters will be hoping to see him grace the fields of Kings Mill Road in 2015, with the club keen to tie up a deal for a second season.
Further runs for the Woldsmen came in the form of Danny Broumpton, who made 28, and youngster George Drury, who scored a swift 30.
The pick of the bowlers for Collegiate was Matt Lee, who finished with impressive figures of 5-70 from his allotted 17 overs.
The home side made a great start in pursuit of their opponents total, with opening batsmen Daniel Walton and former Yorkshire wicket-keeper Simon Guy making 54 for the first wicket.
The pair’s partnership came to an end when Guy was dismissed for 38, and Walton was the next batsman to fall for 46.
However, Collegiate’s top-order continued to flourish under the guidance of William Root, brother of England international star Joe, and young wicket-keeper Sam Webber.
Root finished the innings as his side’s top-scorer with 61, while Webber made 47, and they looked to have steered their side to victory when they were 226-4.
However, the remaining batsmen scored 14 runs between them to end their innings on 257-9.
Sheffield’s collapse was largely down to some terrific Driffield bowling, the pick of which was skipper Brent who finished with figures of 3-60.
This final-day victory sees Driffield finish the season in seventh position in the Yorkshire League.
Driffield 2nd XI finished the season in the relegation zone of York Senior League division one after falling to a disappointing 70-run defeat against fellow strugglers Whitkirk in their must-win clash at Kings Mill Road on Saturday.
However, their division one status could yet be saved if the league decide to restructure the league pyramid later this week.
With tension in the air, Driffield captain Grant Halder won the toss and decided to let the away side bat first.
Whitkirk will have been pleased with their efforts when they completed their innings after scoring 203-6 from their 48 overs.
Leading run-scorer for the West Yorkshire side was Simon Webb, who despite giving Driffield four chances to dismiss him, batted his way to 114.
Webb’s innings was well backed-up by Dave Tubby, who made 46.
The pick of the bowlers for the Woldsmen was the impressive Halder, who picked up 4-58, figures that included a hat-trick.
Driffield’s problem all season has been losing wickets early in the innings, and Saturday proved to be no different after their innings got off to a disastrous start, and they never really recovered from this.
The home side were bowled out for just 133 in the 38th over of their innings, with only Johnny Addy’s 38 being the only significant runs scored.
The pick of the bowlers for Whitkirk was Ben Danby who finished with tidy figures of 3-23.
Driffield finish the season in 11th position in York Senior League division one, but just as Scotland, their fate will be decided later in the week.