Pikes fall short as Park prosper (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes fall short as Park prosper

Ryedale Beckett League Division One - Duncombe Park 126 for 6 beat Pickering 101 for 6 by 25 runs. PARK ran out comfortable winners in the end, despite Pickering having good spells with both bat and ball.

In the Park innings, Brian Leckenby (35) and Peter Humpleby (32) played well, although Humpleby was fortunate on occasion.

Mark Shepherd (2 for 20) and youngster Matt Hartup (2 for 27) were the pick of the Pikes' bowlers.

In reply, only Sean Stuchbery (49) and Mark Shepherd (21) prospered against a varied Park attack.

Lockton 134 for 3 beat

Brawby 134 for 2 by 7 wickets

Chris Smith (80no) and Sam Thackeray (32) put Brawby in what seemed to be a good position. Chris Nichols (2 for 29) was Lockton's most successful bowler.

After Brawby's opening bowlers had finished, 60 runs were on the board from the first eight overs as Chris Nichols (65no) and Jackson soon knocked off the required runs.

Mark Fairweather finished with a creditable 2 for 26.

Cropton 150 for 5 beat

Hovingham 100 for 7 by 50 runs

On a damp evening, Cropton batted well, putting Hovingham's opening bowlers to the sword. No Hovingham bowler managed to hit any consistent line or length as Kev Wilson (53) and Mark Aconley batted well. Jon Fairburn (2 for 33) was the only bowler to do any good with the ball for Hovingham.

It proved to be a good toss to win for Cropton as the light deteriorated by the minute.

Only Alistair Thorpe (28) and Steve Mosey (38) showed their batting skills as Hugh Morgan finished with 4 for 13.

Duncombe Park 88 for 3 beat

Brawby 86 for 4 by 7 wickets

Brawby struggled against an experienced Park attack. Paul Wilkie particularly bowled well with 2 for 11. Only Simon King, with 24, and Adrian Pierson, with 17no, looked slightly comfortable.

The Brawby total was boosted by an Extras total of 28 - their highest individual score.

An early breakthrough saw Peter Kent caught behind off Cooper for four and this gave Brawby a glimmer of hope. But with the score already on 26 and Brian Leckenby in full flow at the other end, there realistically was only going to be one outcome to this contest. Mark Mulvihill also did well with 23.

An early finish after just 6.3 overs ensured the players and spectators could enjoy the after match barbecue expertly prepared by Aussie Dan O'Connor.

Division Two

Kirkbymoorside 82 for 7 beat Burythorpe 80 for 8 by 3 wickets

Kirkbymoorside put the cat amongst the pigeons as they forced themselves into the promotion race at the last minute, hoping for a slip-up from the two teams a point in front of them with one game to go.

This was the closest of matches, with the winning run, a boundary by Martin Charlton, giving the Moorsiders a memorable victory.

Burythorpe were hoping to clinch promotion with points from this match and they looked to be in a good position, as ten was needed off the last eight-ball over. Howard Mudd and Martin Charlton were at the crease. It came down to two runs needed to tie from the last ball and Charlton crashed it to the boundary.

No Kirkby players made a decent score but all chipped in against a Burythorpe attack that responded with tight bowling to keep a low score on the board.

Batting first, Burythorpe found life difficult on a lively pitch and struggled early doors against the veteran bowlers Howard Mudd and Neil Ward, who took 1 for 13 and 1 for 19 respectively.

Young guns Martin Charlton (3 for 21) and Richard Clark (2 to 22) took wickets late on for the Moorsiders and ensured Burythorpe did not increase the scoring rate too much.

Swinton and Broughton 105 for 5 beat Nawton Grange 101 for 4 by 5 wickets

Swinton are the other side jostling for promotion along with Burythorpe and Kirkbymoorside. They put themselves in a good position for promotion with this win over Nawton Grange.

Nawton's openers made a slow start but once they got their eye in, they amassed some runs with Mark Rymer making 33 and Sleightholme 46. Lund (3 for 21) kept things tight for Swinton with some accurate bowling.

Swinton also started slowly, but with Bonser (30) at the wicket, they were always favourites. However, once Justin Palmer captured Bonser's wicket, the match could have gone either way.

Towse (snr) proved to be the man to steer Swinton to the points with an undefeated 27.

Justin Palmer took 3 for 28 and Steve Clements 1 for 16 from four overs.

Whitwell 77 for 2 beat

Settrington 73 for 6 by 8 wickets

On a slow wicket, all of Settrington batsmen got a good start, with Steve Beal (18) and Tom Harrison (14) forming a good partnership, though they were restricted by some good bowling by Whitwell's bowlers. Nick Wittevene took 2 for 14 and Chris Creber 2 for 20 in their allotted four-over spells.

Opener Chris Creber (47no) was in no mood for waiting for the rain and set about the Settrington attack. Despite Settrington taking a couple of early wickets, their total was not enough and the win came in ten overs. Steve Beal and John Huntsman took the wickets.

Division Three

Ryedale 144 for 1 beat

Wombleton 91 all out by 53 runs.

Ryedale youngster Sean Smith was in brilliant all-round form, contributing in a big way to Wombleton's downfall. Smith made 42 not out and figured in a super stand with Danny Walker, who played brilliantly for his undefeated 82. The pair added more than 100 for the second-wicket partnership.

Smith then picked up the ball and returned 6 for 10 in his 20 balls.

Fawcett (31), Grice (16) and Johnson (17) scored the bulk of the Wombles' runs.

Thornton-le-Dale 30 for 1 beat

Great Habton 27 for 9 by 9 wickets

This was no contest as Dale took command from the word go. Fourteen-year-old Colin Lockwood bowled excellently, taking 4 for 13. Lee Oliver took 2 for 8 and Paul Allerdice, in his only over, collected 2 for 2 as Great Habton were skittled out for a paltry total.

Despite Andrew Rudd being bowled by the first ball of Dale's innings, the Spencer brothers got the required runs in double quick time - James making 14 not out and Tom 16 not out. The runs came in three overs to give Dale their third successive win.

Westow 185 for 5 beat

Duncombe Park 43 all out by 142 runs

Duncombe Park were looking for vital promotion points but ended up second class in all departments to Westow.

Colin Smallwood (72) and Richard Hudson (59no) plundered runs from the Park attack as the ball whizzed around the field. Mark Earle also made a useful contribution of 26.

Brand (2 for 27) and Matt Harding (1 for 21) tried hard to stem the runs for Park.

When they batted, the Helmsley side had no answer to Dave Coverdale (3 for 13) and Col Smallwood (2 for 5) and never got into the match.

Thornton-le-Dale 116 for 9 beat Wombleton 54 all out by 62 runs

Dale's comprehensive victory dented Wombleton's promotion hopes.

Stuart Hill continued his brilliant form with three sixes and five fours in his explosive innings of 54. Good support came from James Hall (17), Andrew Rudd (16) and Lee Oliver (12).

Johnston (3 for 21) and Fawcett (2 for 12) impressed for the Wombles.

The visitors reply never got started as Lee Oliver bowled excellently. He took Grice, Charlton and Sharples in his first over and then clean bowled Johnston in his second over to finish with 4 for 3. Brother Carl was not going to be out done and he collected 3 for 13. Colin Lockwood chipped in with 2 for 17.

Featherstone (14no) and Fawcett (12) were the only Wombleton players to make double figures.

Updated: 11:20 Wednesday, July 23, 2003