Harry Gunning was the hero as Lady Lumley’s School reached the final of the Year 9s cricket Adrian Grayson North Yorkshire County Schools Cup by beating St John Fisher’s School from Harrogate.

This thrilling victory was the first success of a semi-final double for the Pickering school as their Year 7s team won their county cup last-four clash, too, beating Ryedale School in a derby.

The last two overs of the Year 9s game saw Lady Lumley’s needing 13 runs to win, and with this in mind St John Fisher’s brought their strike bowler back on.

But Gunning then hit a six and two fours in the penultimate over to win the game and the man-of-the-match accolade.

PE teacher Andy Park said: “We were over the moon to get through to the final. The batting performance was not the best initially – we thought their score would be hard to beat – but to win in the end was great.”

Lady Lumley’s had begun the game excellently, taking a wicket with the second ball, through Reece Milner, but they failed to take any more until the 18th over, St John Fisher’s ending on 114-2.

Lumley’s reply then began terribly as Milner was out first ball and fellow opener Liam Hardey also went cheaply.

But captain Neil Eddon hit a good quick 16 and Liam Taylor chose his runs carefully. Lewis Danby also helped to steady the ship – and his exit saw Gunning come to the crease.

Lady Lumley’s Year 9s had knocked out Thirsk High and Harrogate school St Aidan’s in earlier rounds.

The Year 7s semi-final saw Lady Lumley’s make 77 runs, with Jonny Bayes batting well, and they restricted Ryedale to 70, with Kieran Boyes particularly good with the ball.

Lady Lumley’s School also enjoyed a rounders derby double over Malton School.

Lady Lumley’s Year 7s were 7.5-5 ahead after the first innings, thanks to excellent batting from Ellie Lealman and superb fielding from Freya Morton and Caitlin Frith. Lydia Coote bowled magnificently throughout.

Five more rounders each in the second innings saw Lumley’s win 12.5-10.

The Year 9s game started closely, but great batting from Sophie Nicholson saw Lady Lumley’s get the upper hand in the first innings.

Lumley’s stepped up their game in the second with excellent fielding from Lucy Ibbotson and Emily Barr. Malton tried hard with decent batting but Lady Lumley’s won 18-11.