BISHOPTHORPE will defend the HPH Cup in this year’s final against York Vale Cricket League champions Ovington at Clifton Alliance on Sunday, August 3.

Both sides won their semi-finals by big margins on Sunday to set up a mouth-watering showdown.

Bishopthorpe were put into bat on a wet wicket by North Duffield and were struggling at 68-6 from 21 overs as Steve Miller took 3-32 and Mark McDonald conceded just 22 runs in ten overs, taking a couple of wickets into the bargain.

But Mike Dale’s first half-century for Bishopthorpe, aided by a 32-ball 40 from Matthew Riley changed the complexion of the game as 124 came from the last 16 overs. Dale’s 64 included two sixes and eight fours and came from just 53 deliveries as the Bishops posted a healthy 204-9.

Duffield were never in the run chase as Riley beat the edge regularly on his way to figures of 6-4-4-1 while Ian Holmes (3-5) and Andrew Seager (3-17) got among the wickets as Duffield crumbled to 63 all out.

A young Clifton Alliance side proved no match for division one leaders Ovington who won by 117 runs.

The match was switched to Clifton because of waterlogging at Knavesmire and reduced to 32 overs because of morning rain. Ovington didn’t find it easy early on and were 54-2 at halfway but acceleration came as Barry Steel cracked 79 from 58 balls and Tom Cookson sped to 31 from just 20 deliveries to lift Ovington to 206-7.

Clifton featured six Under-15s in their line-up and youngsters shared all the wickets to fall, Jamie Butt taking 3-53 and Joe Kilvington 2-35.

Needing 6.5 an over to win, Alliance got to 64-3 after a dozen overs but after Mark Taylor was dismissed for 32 Clifton collapsed to 89 all out with the final five batsmen only able to muster seven runs. Dave Brummitt took 316 and Ben Busby 3-35.

Acomb enjoyed a last-ball victory against Yapham to secure a place in the final of the Scothern Construction Cup.

Adrian Harris (26no) was the hero, hitting the last ball for four with the scores level at 172-7. Earlier Matty Booth made 84 for Yapham, but Acomb kept up with the rate thanks to Dan Littlewood (58). Carl Marsden hit back for Yapham with 4-37 but Jack Woodworth (46no) found a match-winning ally in Harris.

Acomb will play either Hemingbrough or Bishopthorpe II in the final at Hemingbrough on Sunday, August 10. The other semi-final was not played on Sunday because of a waterlogged pitch.