Ricky Yates [Farnham Herald]
Ricky Yates has played for Rowledge for close on 20 years, scoring close on 6,000 runs in all forms of the game – yet a century continues to elude him !
He must have thought that surprise omission was about to be removed from his cricketing CV when four boundary clearances and 12 other fours took him to 99 against Southern Premier League Division 2 rivals Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
But, off the 108th ball he received, he nicked a catch behind to Totton ‘keeper Oli Thomas to remain in the family ‘century shadow’ behind his Hampshire Sixties star father Chris Yates, who notched his maiden hundred for Rowledge in 2006 against OTs & Romsey.
Yates’s 99 did, though, cement a Rowledge total of 185 – one that proved beyond the reach of Totton & Eling, who were dismissed for 96, only Zimbabwean Gary Chirmuusa (44) and teenager Ethan Taylor (25) managed to reach double figures.
Richard Forbes (3-23) and spinner George Keeley (3-22) shared six of the wickets for Rowledge, who will clinch the SPL2 runners-up spot if they beat St Cross Symondians II at Church Road on Saturday, 12.30.
Totton & Eling remain 13 points clear of Tichborne Park at the bottom and will secure their Division 2 place if they can win at Trojans.
He must have thought that surprise omission was about to be removed from his cricketing CV when four boundary clearances and 12 other fours took him to 99 against Southern Premier League Division 2 rivals Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
But, off the 108th ball he received, he nicked a catch behind to Totton ‘keeper Oli Thomas to remain in the family ‘century shadow’ behind his Hampshire Sixties star father Chris Yates, who notched his maiden hundred for Rowledge in 2006 against OTs & Romsey.
Yates’s 99 did, though, cement a Rowledge total of 185 – one that proved beyond the reach of Totton & Eling, who were dismissed for 96, only Zimbabwean Gary Chirmuusa (44) and teenager Ethan Taylor (25) managed to reach double figures.
Richard Forbes (3-23) and spinner George Keeley (3-22) shared six of the wickets for Rowledge, who will clinch the SPL2 runners-up spot if they beat St Cross Symondians II at Church Road on Saturday, 12.30.
Totton & Eling remain 13 points clear of Tichborne Park at the bottom and will secure their Division 2 place if they can win at Trojans.
