Wombles eye double (From Gazette & Herald)

Wombles eye double

A marvellous week for the Wombles saw them cruise into the final of the Welford Cup and brush aside second-placed Seamer to maintain their stranglehold at the top of the table.

Welford Cup Semi Final

Cayton III 70 for 5, Wombleton 74 for 3

Batting first, Cayton never really threatened to make a large total as Fawcett (1 for 26) presented few scoring opportunities and Johnson (4 for 41) took wickets at key intervals. Wombleton swept to a comfortable win thanks to a composed 34 not out from Charlton as they eased into the final and a confrontation with Whitby III at Ebberston Cricket Club on Wednesday, July 16.

Derwent Valley League Division B

Wombleton 209 all out, Seamer III 117 all out

The visit of second-placed Seamer was likely to prove a tough test for the leaders. Put into bat, Wombleton found scoring difficult but Walker (35) took the shine off the new ball and gave his side a platform from which to build.

Each time the batsmen threatened to take the game to the visitors a wicket fell. With a collapse possible, up stepped Pinkey (38) to play out of his skin once again and thrash the ball to all corners of the ground. Johnson (55) could only watch in awe from the non-strikers end. Not to be outdone, he too launched into the bowling until being controversially caught at deep square leg. Wombleton claimed the ball had been delivered at head height and that it should have been called a no-ball.

For Seamer, only Lawty (26) looked like taking the fight to the bowlers once Douglas had clung on to a sharp catch to dismiss the dangerous Kent. Man-of-the-match Featherstone ensured victory with 7 for 63 as Winwood (32 not out)clung on to gain a valuable batting point for Seamer. The Wombles play Seamer at their place next week where a win would put them three wins clear and in line for a league and cup double.

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, July 02, 2003