Cricket: Opening knocks bolster top two in Ryedale Beckett League (From Gazette & Herald)

Cricket: Opening knocks bolster top two in Ryedale Beckett League

3:07pm Wednesday 20th June 2012 in Sport

Stuart Prest got Hovingham off to a flier as his side rattled up one of the biggest scores in the Ryedale Beckett League first division season to stay joint-top of the table.

Prest scored 28 from one over en route to 44 against Settrington and, with James Wainwright adding 38, they ended on 157, justifying Tom Lund’s decision to bat first. Eddie Rounthwaite (2-24 from four overs) fared best of the bowlers.

Setty’s slow start, scoring 30 from the first six overs, was due largely to the accuracy of Hov’s opening attack, which effectively sealed their victory. Chris Booth (2-15) impressed as Rob Ireland (34) top scored.

Leaders Kirkbymoorside also hit a big score to cement top spot with a 70-run victory over Harome.

Jodie Robson (73) and 14-year-old Matthew Butler set the foundation with an opening stand of 120. James Greenlay took two of the three wickets to fall.

Harome failed to cope with the spin of Dan Jeminson (3-24) losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Greenlay brothers Dave (26) and James (22) showed resistance as the Harome innings limped to 86-8.

Struggling Pickering found runs hard to come by as Duncombe Park’s teenage pace bowlers, Ally Holmes and Johnny Leckenby (2-13), restricted them to 39 in the first eight of 15 overs. Craig Aconley (33) briefly threatened but Park’s change bowlers proved equally restrictive.

Colin Humpleby (4-25) gave little away and ended his spell with three consecutive wickets, one a run-out.

Pickering’s bowlers started well in the reply with Aconley’s left-arm seam restricting Park’s Peter Kent to one run off his first 11 balls. However, things rapidly changed as his half-century included five sixes and three fours. Brian Leckenby played the supporting role ambling to 27 not out, and Fergus Ward (15no) sealed a nine-wicket victory with a six.

Bottom team Malton set a decent score of 105-7 from their 14 overs. Matthew Hodgson (49) scored wellwith young Josh Raines contributing 18. Matty Turnbull (3-16) and Andy Slaughter (2-13) performed admirably.

Stu Whatmore bowled a miserly four-over spell for 14 runs as Burythorpe made a steady start to their reply. Dave Bradshaw (58no) and Max Pimlott (29) forged a 64-run stand to time the run-chase to perfection with victory coming with one over to spare.

There was an incredible finale in division two, where Nawton Grange edged Thornton-le-Dale by one run thanks to a six off the last ball.

Thornton made 106-8 thanks to Sigworth (22) and T Hunt (31), against T Sharples (3-24), and they looked set for victory with the hosts on 101-9 with one ball to go, P Ward having made 20, as Hunt took 3-29.

But then Aaron Rivis smashed a six to take his score to 31 not out and overhaul the target.

Another tight match saw Whitwell pip Ampleforth by five runs.

All the Whitwell batsmen got off the mark, the pick being Alex Lynch, who struck powerful blows in his 43 not out. Good bowling by J Skelton an C Cox kept Whitwell under pressure and it may have been different had Ampleforth held their catches.

In reply, Ampleforth openers J Skelton and R Chilton put on 50 for the first wicket, which fell in the eighth over, before an inspired spell by stand-in skipper Nick Witteveen (31-4) and good catches brought Whitwell back into the game. Needing 16 of the last over, J Fox started well but when he was caught the match slipped from Ampleforth’s grasp.

Great Habton had an easy win at Swinton & Broughton and Ryedale saw off Westow.