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Match Report
Pickering made their first visit to the Park last Saturday and the
players were thankful for the tree belt alongside the ground which
provided a degree a shelter from the far from seasonal chilly wind.
Skipper Charlie Rook took over the helm again and, wary of the batting
capabilities of the opposition, choose to field. On a wicket offering
little to the bowlers the opening pairing of Chris Nichols and Mark
Shepherd wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game as
Rich Foster and Tom Eagling toiled without reward. A fifty partnership
inside 11 overs became a hundred partnership in the 22nd over
as damage limitation became the order of the day for the Britcom
sponsored Park. The skipper bravely brought himself into the attack
along with the Ginger One but could not prevent the 150 partnership.
Finally, with the board showing 158, Tissy made the breakthrough as Tom
Eagling claimed the catch to dismiss Shepherd for 74. Unfortunately all
this achieved was to allow another batsman who has been scoring runs in
the York League for fun for many years, Colin Frank, to join Nichols and
continue the flow of runs. This they did in imperious fashion as the
Park failed to trouble the wickets column again. Nichols completed his
century and ended the innings undefeated on 109 whilst Frank eased his
way to 74 not out in his 17 over occupation of the crease. Rich Foster
returned creditable figures, conceding 52 during his 13 over stint, as
the Park took tea contemplating an imposing target of 269.
The
early reply didn't quite have the dominance of the visitors' innings as
Big Bird was unluckily bowled for 16 when the ball deflected off his leg
and just disturbed the bails and Sam Dodd overreached and was stumped
for 11. Charlie Rook and NEIL Stephenson (OK Viv?) managed to see off
the opening bowlers Haines and the accurate Greenlay and made the most
of Barker's 4 overs which included 5 no balls and 2 wides. They built up
a solid 3rd wicket partnership of 86 before Stephenson was
harshly judged LBW, even the bowler admitted hearing the inside edge,
and departed the action for 34. A mix up between the skipper and Ian
Hodson left the latter stranded half way down the track and a unplanned
swift return to the sheds. Mark Tissiman contributed 11 before Evans
claimed the key wicket for the visitors, bowling Rook for a well earned
64. With the board showing 156 for 6 and 13 overs remaining The Pikes
could be forgiven for assuming a 30 point haul was all but in the bag,
but the Park are made of stern stuff these days and, despite losing
Michael Drewery cheaply, James Beevers rose to the task. Blaster and
Eagling offered sound support as James steered the Park to a draw and a
personal red inker of 34 as the innings closed on 212 for 8.
A
useful 10 point haul as the 1st XI continue to hold their own
at this high level. The match ball was kindly sponsored by Leakes
Butchers and this weekend the Park travel to Chanterlands Avenue to face
a daunting task on paper against table toppers Hull Zingari.
Pickering 1st XI 268-1 (C Nichols 109 no, M Shepherd 74, C
Frank 63 no) Londesborough Park 1st XI 212-8 (C Rook 64, N
Stephenson 35, J Beevers 34 no, C Aconley 2-45)
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