| Match Report
13 years ago Londesborough Park was competing in the
Pennant Alliance, playing the same teams in the East Riding each year,
and based in a concrete block and asbestos pavilion. Today the club has
one of the best pavilions in the East Riding and last Saturday’s York
League Division 2 fixture took the 1st XI to the County
Ground in Scarborough – it doesn’t get much better.
Nigel Botting’s mystery tour eventually towed up at North Marine Road
with a mixture of players and supporters. Before the game the young
Scarborough team were put through their paces by former Yorkshire
skipper David Byas before toss winning supremo Charlie Rook called
correctly once again and decided to field.
Rich
Foster made an immediate breakthrough, bowling Hills for a duck and an
appeal for caught behind by Blaster and the ‘Ginger One’ saw umpire Malc
Ripley’s finger rise to dismiss Kundi for 3. Opener Will Gibson kept
the board ticking with some attractive shots and accumulated the bulk of
Scarborough’s runs before Mike Davies trapped him LBW for 62. A well
judged catch by Rob Sawyer rewarded Sam Medley’s tidy 8 over spell and
Rob himself claimed the wicket of Sennett. Sam Dodd, having just failed
to cling on to a difficult opportunity, was then presented with a simple
catch to give Davies his 3rd wicket and reduce the opposition
to 118 for 7. The Scarborough youngsters then showed great
determination as Hurst (54 n o) and Sumpton (13 n o) batted through the
remaining overs, adding 68 without further loss to leave the Park
requiring 187 for victory.
Those Park supporters without a pack-up and 2nd team members
who had no fixture then headed for the chippy and returned to see Big
Bird and Sam Medley make a brisk and solid start. With the score on 23
Big Bird guided a loose delivery to backward point where Hills claimed a
very low catch and, despite an air of doubt, Big Bird had to go. Skipper
Rook joined Medley on a low and far from pacey track and found runs
difficult to accumulate. However Sam, clearly enjoying the big stage,
moved on in some style to reach his half century. A change a pace saw
the spin of Kundi draw Rook into a half-hearted shot and depart for 31.
Sam Dodd took his time to adapt to the pace of the wicket and the
bowling until he plundered 13 off one over to get the board moving
again. The Scarborough appealing grew in volume and animation but to no
avail. However with 11 required for victory Dodd was caught at
mid-wicket for a valuable 41 leaving Ben Lewis and Sam Medley to concoct
a victory and a century. The latter looked to have gone but Kundi
spilled a relatively easy chance. Sam made no mistake in the
penultimate over to secure another victory for the Park and a personal
milestone – his maiden century.
A
great day out for the players and the healthy band of Park spectators
and especially for Sam Medley. Thanks to match ball sponsor R Hornsey &
Sons. This Saturday’s fixture sees Dringhouses visit the Park.
Scarborough II 187-7 (W Gibson 62, M Hurst 54 n o, M Davies 3-62)
Londesborough Park 188-3 (S Medley 106 n o, S Dodd 41, C Rook 31)
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