14/09/2026
Witham's Last weekend roundup of 2026
Maltby’s competitive season came to an end this weekend, with our 1st XI being involved in a dramatic final day in the NYSD Division 2. Seaton Carew Cricket Club claimed championship glory at Francis Park in a 27-run victory, with Marton 2nd XI slipping up away to Shildon Railway.
The Canoe-men batted first, posting 188-9 with Jack Wilson scoring 45*. Maltby’s pace attack was amongst the wickets with Michael Roberts (4-46), Owen Huggins (3-36) and Archie Stevenson (2-57) all finishing the summer strongly. There were some examples of fine fielding work on display with Joe Fox taking a superb one-handed reflex grab at gully and Matty Everson also showing a safe pair of hands holding on to a full-blooded bash towards the boundary.
In reply, Charlie Henry capped off his fine season in style with a bombastic 53, bringing up his half-ton in classic Botham-esque style with a massive six over long on and into the local housing estate (another reminder to the housebuilders to address the boundary netting issue). Joe Fox (31) and skipper Matty Douglas (35) provided good knocks amid a middle-order collapse. Maltby came up short in an entertaining end-of-season spectacle, but congratulations should be given to the Seasiders for winning an exciting league championship. Maltby 1st XI can be proud of a 5th place finish after an exhilarating title race, in which we have held our own, with our bowling attack being highly respected throughout the league. With the bat there have been some fine individual performances. Charlie Henry finished with an impressive 724 runs, and Rushil Partha’s mesmeric rise with his match-winning performances with both bat and ball will be a fond memory of this summer.
Over in Division Three, Maltby 2nd XI visited Great Ayton Cricket and Football Club Official for their final game of the season. The hosts were invited to bat first by Kelly, (and happily obliged) posting 309-3. Harry Russell (112*) Hoshang Noria (94) both had big knocks, with Safin Chacko (2-74) and Jibin Antony (1-83) claiming a few consolation wickets.
Maltby were skittled for 92 all out, losing by 217 runs, despite a promising start from George Cole (24) and Arjan Sangha (19). The less said about what followed, the better. Rumour has it, skipper Matthew Kelly is now pleading with the committee to pander to Phil Thompson’s demands for petrol money, a tin of Monster and a packet of polos (per appearance) for his services next summer…
On Sunday afternoon, the Crazy Gang finished off an epic campaign with defeat at home to Stokesley Cricket Club. With a highest ever finish guaranteed and the title race sadly conceded, there was little on the line, and skipper Rob Richardson followed traditional end-of-season protocol, utilising all his starting XI. Under-13 Joe Conti was given the nod behind the stumps (probably the youngest glovesman Maltby has fielded in a senior match in a long time). Stokesley batted first, and Matty Henry dismissed opener Cai Evans in the first over. Dan Boswell (37) and Joey Snow (31) built an innings, but Maltby continued to take wickets; Michael Roberts helped himself to 4-31, finishing the season strongly after a summer in which he has been pivotal to our charge up the table. Jimmy Mills (1-26) chipped in alongside Nikhil Kuntala, who claimed his first ever wicket for Maltby! Lewis Jackson (1-0) needed only one delivery to dismiss last man - captain Andy Loughran, as Stokesley finished 221 all out.
In reply, Maltby could only muster 105, losing by 116 runs. Sahibpreet Singh scored a useful 17 as the top order collapsed, with juniors Mihir Thalluri (23) and Conti (19) striking a resilient partnership down the order.
On what looked to be a potentially challenging season on all fronts, the 80th anniversary season should surely be seen as a year to be pleased with, despite the lack of silverware. One thing we should always take pride (yet again) in is our junior setup. Mumblings that opportunities haven’t been given to the club’s younger players are unjustified and should be considered farcical. Our 1st XI competed at the business end of Division Two with a squad composed almost exclusively of home-grown players (bar a slack handful of welcome Stockton mercenaries), with the likes of Praty Partha (385), Arjan Sangha (388) and Mihir Thalluri (386) all being awarded prestigious cap numbers over the summer (having excelled in our other senior sides). Our 2nd XI has featured junior players heavily this season, with people often forgetting that the likes of Adam Kelly and George Cole are still in the junior set-up, having been involved in the senior set-up for so long.
The 3rd XI success has undoubtedly been influenced by the likes of David Henderson, Michael Roberts and Charlie Henry, but throughout the season, plenty of opportunities have been awarded to juniors; with Tanvir, Rohan and Sahibpreet Singh featuring throughout the summer. The competitiveness of the Crazy Gang has created a feel-good vibe that was a previously alien concept for the 3rd XI, and this new outlook has provided a positive environment for youngsters to be involved in when entering senior cricket. Often, cricket-themed accounts on social media show video clips featuring 1st XI players wheel-spinning off into the distance as the 3rd XI captain approaches them to enquire about their Sunday availability; this season has been quite the opposite for us!
We can look back on a fantastic year, which has seen us welcome back members of the old guard, with the inaugural Barber-Rix cup which was an emotive evening celebrating arguably our two finest ever players, followed by a well-attended President’s Day and ‘Legends’ match.
There is one final curtain call for the cricketing summer next weekend with a proposed inter-club senior T20 featuring another President’s vs. Chairman’s XI in what has been dubbed the ‘Match Reporter’s Invitational’ (Archie Stevenson’s Cricketing Birthday Party!) where we hope to raise a bit more cash for the Martin Barber scoreboard (and clear the cellar for the upcoming winter). There is also the potential to have a junior match on the morning prior to this game (to be confirmed).
Editor’s Note. A huge thank you to our roving reporter Nick Witham, who has kept us informed and entertained throughout the season.
The photo confirms that 2nd XI skipper Matthew Kelly has been driven to drink, but the rest of the 3rd XI are looking pleased with themselves having finished as runners up in the Sunday Division South.
