Where there's a Will there's a way, as Pikes pummel Park (From Gazette & Herald)

Where there's a Will there's a way, as Pikes pummel Park

Ryedale Beckett League Division One

Pickering 122 for 6,

Duncombe Park 101 for 9

DUNCOMBE Park's grip on the title seems fragile as they suffered another defeat, this time at the hands of Pickering.

Youngster Will Curtis was the Pikes' man of the match with a decisive 4 for 29 spell which changed the match in Pickering's favour.

The pace and accuracy of Crosswell and Boyes pushed Park behind the required run rate. The introduction of Curtis saw him destroy the Park batting to put Pickering in a dominant position. Brian Leckenby (27) and Pete Kent (29) were the mainstay of the Park batting.

Earlier, Crosswell had hit an excellent undefeated 37, which was by far his best knock of the season. Colin Frank got Pickering off to a splendid start as he smashed the bowlers to all parts of the ground in his 38. Richardson (2 for 20) impressed for Park with the ball.

Harome 148 for 6, Burythorpe 99 for 8

Harome got off to a good start, but Olly Metcalfe (25) fell and Jodie Robson soon followed. It was Dave Greenlay (40) and the Marwoods, Charlie (36) and Phil (28), who kept things going until the latter two fell in the same over. Enter James Otterburn who whacked 16 from the last six balls. Porteus (3 for 48) was Burythorpe's most successful bowler.

James Greenlay (3 for 22) proved too much for the visitors' top order. There was a brief rally which threatened to swing things in Burythorpe's favour, but then skipper James Otterburn (2 for 4) promptly dismissed both batsmen to leave the result of the match in no doubt

Malton and Old Malton 130 for 3

Cropton 81 for 7

Malton made a good start with Ben Nicholson (26) scoring quickly. Hugh Morgan produced a good bowling spell for Cropton with two wickets. The match altered when Steve Baxter scored a useful 45 runs. Tony Linsley also contributed by holding the innings together, batting through for 34 not out.

Cropton lost Kevin Wilson in the first over to Danny Foxton and never recovered. A good catch from Shane Bonser removed Craig Aconley and Malton were totally on top. K R Aconley (25) was the only batsman to show for Cropton. Foxton took 2 for 10, Bonser 2 for 15 and Linsley 2 for 21, while Dawson had a tidy opening spell.

Kirkbymoorside 137 for 6,

Lockton 127 for 4

In-form Dave Gardner (54) and Col Humphrey (26) got the Moorsiders off to a good start. Neil Ward chipped in with 23 not out and it could have been more had Les Welburn (4 for 34) not turned in a good performance towards the end of the innings.

Seasoned campaigners Howard Mudd (2 for 18) and Neil Ward (2 for 30) claimed three wickets in the first three overs to send Lockton reeling. Steve Stead (55 not out) and Jim Boyes (21 not out) threatened a recovery, but they just failed to reach the required target. It was the Moorsiders' first win of the season.

Hovingham 112 for 6, Brawby 110 for 5

Simon King (33) and Ady Pearson got Brawby off to a fine start, putting 35 on the board in the first four overs. However, the introduction of Jon Fairburn (2 for 21) slowed the scoring rate down considerably. Jon Mosey (1 for 12) also did well as Hovingham restricted Brawby to a reasonable total. Chris Smith hit 22 and Mark Fairweather 17.

Hovingham started slowly and lost two wickets. However Stuart Prest (18) and Jon Mosey (34) got them back on track. Jon Fairburn continued with the bat where he had left off with the ball and contributed a useful 18. Hovingham always looked like getting the runs despite the efforts of Ady Pearson (1 for 22).

Ampleforth 130 for 3, Settrington 126 for 8

Settrington got off to a flier with 28 runs coming off the first three overs. The runs carried on flowing with a partnership of 60 between George Rounthwaite (35) and Stephen Beal (26). After the loss of these two to successive balls, the scoring rate slowed and wickets tumbled, with only a cameo innings of 13 from Jonny Huntsman making any real difference to the total. Tight bowling by Stephenson (2-27) restricted Settrington to 126.

A brilliant opening partnership of 86 from Jameson (60 not out) and (O'Leary 31) set Ampleforth on their way to a comfortable victory with two overs to spare. None of the bowlers could restrict the flow of runs. Andy Taylor picked up all three wickets, continuing his impressive first season for Settrington.

Great Habton could not raise a team for the match against Nawton Grange and lost by default. They were also deducted two points.

Updated: 11:12 Thursday, June 27, 2002