ALL-ROUNDER Craig Nicholl guided Ovington to an impressive 102-run win against Stockton & Hopgrove in division one of the HPH York Vale Cricket League.

Due to York Races, Saturday’s match was switched to the University of York but the move didn’t disturb Nicholl who lifted the champions to 176-8 with 53 from 52 deliveries. He was out in the penultimate over, remarkably one of five run-outs in the Ovington innings.

Nicholl then removed four of the top five Stockton batsmen on his way to 4-23 as the Hopgrove men were rolled over for 74.

Bishopthorpe held on to top spot despite losing by 24 runs at North Cave where James Windeatt, dropped before scoring, smashed 75 in which he cleared the ropes seven times. He was last man out as Cave totalled 146 as 17-year-old Martin Riley (4-22) and second team regular Jamie Blackburn (4-44) spearheaded the visitors’ attack.

An opening partnership of 96 by Phil Smith (57no) and Matt Walker (45) powered Kelfield to victory at North Duffield who had been bowled out for 135.

Ben Johnson have opened up a big lead in division two after defeating Clifton Alliance. Clifton were bowled out for 109, Steve Wragg taking 5-29 and Scott Carlton, playing for the first time in two years, bowling the last three Clifton men in only four deliveries. Nicky Drew (45no) saw the printers home with three overs in hand.

Heworth recovered from 50-4 to post 147-5 against Askham Bryan thanks to experienced pair Greg Sykes (49no) and Pete Fairburn (48). Another old hand, Dave Baker, then took 5-20 as Askham were all out for 113, Adrian Speakman scoring 57.

Selby spinner Meg Jones took 5-66 and Gareth Pearce (106) hit seven sixes and seven boundaries in the day’s only century but Selby still lost at South Cave.

Eight-man Bishopthorpe II snatched a tie in a low-scoring game at Malton & Old Malton in division three.

Steve Oldfield took 4-16 as Bish could only muster 49 – 24 of those coming from the evergreen John Latimer.

The village side’s bowlers responded brilliantly as Jamie Mackie (4-13) and Alex Bindloss (3-4) tore through the opposition. When Doug Bentley was out for 19, Malton had slid to 37-6 and entered the final over needing four to win with the last pair at the crease.

Steve Varey hit the ball over the Bishopthorpe fielders but it didn’t make the boundary and Malt tied the scores by running three. Number 11 Sammy Heslop was then bowled by Latimer (3-30) from the final ball.

Ovington II’s Harry Buckley hit six sixes in his match-winning unbeaten 64 against Wheldrake, while Carl Marsden’s 5-17 set up Yapham’s win against Askham Bryan II.

Pocklington’s improvement continued in division four with a crushing ten-wicket win at Selby II, where Pete Eastwood produced outstanding figures of 12-4-19-6.

Des Healey was in good nick as Stamford Bridge enjoyed back-to-back weekend wins. He made 60 against Thorp Arch & Boston Spa on Saturday and 57 against Thorpe Willoughby II the next day.

Press Performance of the Week

PETE EASTWOOD was on the mark for improving Pocklington, taking 6-19 in their division four win at Selby II.