Vale Cricket League: Ovington lose ground on leaders (From York Press)

Vale Cricket League: Ovington lose ground on leaders

11:11am Thursday 30th August 2012 in Sport By Martin Jarred

OVINGTON lost ground in the HPH York Vale Cricket League division one title race when they were beaten in the only game to reach a conclusion on another rain-lashed Saturday.

The Knavesmire-based side, who were in fourth spot, were beaten by 34 runs at Copmanthorpe in a game reduced to 34 overs. Ovington gained six bonus points while the teams above them, Bishopthorpe , North Cave and Hemingbrough all took 15 points from abandoned games.

Copmanthorpe made a fine start as Andy Northfield (40) and Richard Hague (22) shared an opening partnership of 79, but the introduction of Dave Brummitt to the Ovington attack changed the course of the game. He took 6-30 in six overs as last year’s champions were bowled out for 122.

Ovington seemed favourites, but despite 42 from Neil Metcalfe, they never recovered from a slow start and lost wickets regularly to Darren Hughes (5-23) and Chris Hall (3-24) to be dismissed for 88.

Hemingbrough were bowled out for 134 at Bishopthorpe, whose Ian Holmes, Scott Reeves and Matthew Riley took three wickets each. James Dougherty struck 63 for Hemingbrough but a tea-time downpour ended play.

North Cave didn’t even get started at Wheldrake, while Dave Kerrison scored 68 in Stockton & Hopgrove’s 165-5 at Hirst Courtney before the weather intervened.

Division two’s match of the day between leaders Fulfordgate and third-placed Ben Johnson ended in anti-climax with the game abandoned with the printers having reached 106-6. Openers Jamie Agnew (45) and Fran Raper (28) gave BJs a good start with a 73-run partnership, but Dave Baldock’s 5-28 got Fulfordgate back in the game before the heavens opened.

Division three leaders Heworth seemed on course for victory against Stillingfleet when bad light and rain intervened.

Stillingfleet had recovered from 60-6 to post 160-9 thanks to a seventh-wicket partnership between Jonny Wright (52) and Ian Thompson (32). Greg Sykes (64) and Harry Moorcroft (32) led the reply for Heworth who, despite losing three wickets in four balls, were ten runs short of victory with ten overs and four wickets remaining when the match was abandoned.

The division also saw two ‘five-for’ bowling performances in games that failed to finish. North Duffield’s Craig Patrick took 5-16 in 11.5 overs as Copmanthorpe II were bowled out for 71 and Brian Underwood took 5-46 for Melbourne against South Cave & Brantingham.

Press performance of the week

Dave Brummitt gained some consolation in defeat with figures of 6-30 against Copmanthorpe in division one.