ON Saturday Great Ayton played Wakefield Thornes at Scarborough CC for the chance to go to Headingley yesterday in the Yorkshire Premier Leagues Championship, but were well beaten by their West Yorkshire counterparts and missed out on the chance to go to Abu Dhabi.

Wakefield Thornes decided to bat first after winning the toss, in the 50 over per-side game and were soon setting a big total. Opener Jared Warner scored 40 and then David Toft smashed a brilliant century (102) off 94 balls, which included ten fours and two sixes.

Mathew Jordan then came in and made 67, to ensure a massive total of 273-7 off their allocated overs, with Stephen Pennock the pick of the bowling taking 4-45.

When Ayton batted, opener Chris Batchelor scored 33, but they then were skittled to 90 all out against some excellent bowling, from the opposition.

Steve Morgan took a brilliant 4-14 and Faisal Irfan returned 3-14, to ensure they went on to Sunday’s final against Hanging Heaton CC, who beat York CC in the other semi-final by 122 runs.