Downpour-forced move to rivals’ ground provides big lift

9:31am Thursday 17th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

OVINGTON moved closer to the top of the HPH York Vale Cricket League division two with a helping hand from the team they are chasing – University of York Staff.

Their game against Hirst Courtney was switched from a wet Little Knavesmire to Staff’s ground at Heslington Lane where the wicket had survived the downpours.

Ironically, leaders Staff’s game at waterlogged Westow was called off as Ovington trimmed their advantage to six points with a seven-wicket win over Hirst.

Graham Haigh took 6-73 as Hirst managed 146-9, Anthony Hinch top-scoring with 68. Tail-ender Carl Welch was promoted to open the Ovington innings with Tom Cookson and contributed a rapid 61 to a first-wicket partnership of 96, Cookson finishing unbeaten on 59.

Clifton Alliance remain in the promotion frame with an 11-run win at Kelfield where Simon Cook (53), Mike Pickering (46no) and Allan Barton (40) helped them to 194-5. Kelfield fought hard with Matthew Walker scoring 42, but three wickets apiece for Cook and Dave Friend tipped the game Alliance’s way.

Only two games survived in division one. British Sugar were bowled out by Burn for 161 after being 133-2 after 29 overs, Matthew Smith taking 7-40.

However, it was enough as Burn were reeling at 29-5. They never really recovered against the pace of Aaron Reid (6-34).

Bishopthorpe won at North Duffield, who were bowled out for 135. Dave Prime (56no) rode his luck in a 55-ball innings, including five sixes to get Bishops home.

Malton & Old Malton pulled off a surprise in division three by thumping high-flying Sheriff Hutton by 55 runs. An aggressive 54 from Simon Brookshaw and Alistair Blacklee’s 47 saw Malt post 151-7, Tony Fisher taking 5-19. Despite Hugo Barnard’s 54 Sheriff fell well short.

Stillingfleet collapsed from 119-4 to 129 all out in their one-wicket defeat to Thorpe Willoughby, whose Nadeem Shefta was the match-winner with an unbeaten 53 to follow his 3-34.

Bishopthorpe II and Burton Salmon tied in a reduced over game in division four.

Thanks to Guy Mowbray (48) and skipper Ben Smith (40), Bishopthorpe recovered from 16-3 to total 123-6. Salmon were favourites when they needed 24 off the final five overs with five wickets intact but entered the last over on 119-8 and lost a wicket to Smith’s first delivery. The last pair managed to level the scores before a run-out on the final ball.

Hemingbrough II took another stride towards the title by beating Askham Bryan II by 44 runs despite Mike Hodgkinson’s 5-20.

Martin Coyle was the star of Huntington’s 127-run win over Pocklington in division five with 77 and 3-13.

Performance of the week

Martin Coyle’s all-round effort for improving Huntington in division five against high-flying Pocklington.

His 77 and 3-13 helped inflict only Pocklington’s second defeat of the season and put his team firmly in the promotion picture.