Britcom sponsored Londesborough Park’s 1st XI was boosted by the return of influential batsmen Charlie Rook and Phil Stothard for last Saturday’s encounter at Acomb but it was skipper Greg Drewery along with Stothard who held centre stage to set the platform for a well deserved victory.
The skipper backed his troops with the willow and decided to bat first. Rook’s lack of game time shone through in spades as he departed from the first delivery courtesy of a return catch and James Beevers became James Byford’s second victim with only 8 on the board. However the hosts had to wait over an hour and a half for their next breakthrough as a totally dominant partnership between Drewery and Stothard rattled the score to 226 before the latter was eventually bowled by Paul Hemingway just 5 short of a deserved century. Tom Eagling (12) offered support to Drewery who looked set for 150 until Hemingway intervened and he left the action to a standing ovation with 131 to his name. Cameos from Michael Drewery (15 no) and Steve Dawson (12) resulted in the Park enjoying their tea in the knowledge that the hosts would need to score 284 for an unlikely victory.
Tom Sowersby made early inroads into the Acomb attack, Hemingway being caught by Beevers for 9 and Alex Topham safely pouched by Mark Tissiman for a similar contribution. Skipper Dan Littlewood found an ally in Martin Pepper in a partnership of 65 before the latter was castled by James Beevers who then repeated the feat on two more occasions to send Matthew Williams and Paul Neal packing in quick succession. Rook then chipped in with the wicket of Freddy Littlewood to reduce the hosts to 119 for 6. Brief resistance from Mark Williamson (16) was ended by Ciaran Brooke and Sowersby cleaned up the tail to leave Littlewood stranded without any more partners on 53 not out, victory being secured with just two balls remaining as, fittingly, Greg Drewery took the catch to dismiss No. 11 Daniel Watkinson.
An emphatic 121 run victory for the Park with Greg Drewery securing the Harpers man of the match award. Thanks to The Griffin public house for kindly sponsoring the match ball. This Saturday the Park travel again to face Malton and Old Malton’s 2nd XI.
Londesborough Park 1st XI 283-6 (G Drewery 131, P Stothard 95, P Hemingway 3-46) Acomb 2nd XI 162 (D Littlewood 53 no, M Pepper 37, T Sowersby 5-29, J Beevers 3-28)
The 2nd XI, sponsored by the Red Lion, welcomed Dunnington’s second string to the Park with the team boosted by the return of Sam Dodd and Edward Smith following 1st XI duties and Steve Miller making his debut.
Skipper Darren Moody followed his 1st XI counterpart at the toss and chose to bat. The first half of the innings stuttered with plenty of double figure contributions but no batsmen other than Lucas Stephenson (36) able to score beyond 20. When Chris Barlow departed for the third duck of the innings, the prospects of and early bun fight were high with the Park struggling on 104 for 8. However the skipper’s new found talent with the bat shows no signs of abating as he and senior pro Rich Foster frustrated the visitors in a partnership of 37 before Moody’s luck ran out and he departed for 42 off 32 balls. Miller held firm at the death as Foster chipped away for an unbeaten 32 to produce a respectable final tally of 178. For the visitors 5th change bowler Jonny Andrew claimed 3 for 6 off just 3 overs.
Acomb’s openers produced a positive response, posting a half century before glove man Barlow took the first of his 3 catches off Foster’s bowling to remove Josh Tattersall for 37. Catches by Ian Hodson
and Miller brought Foster 2 further wickets and two consecutive ducks for the visitors. Opener Steve Jackson’s steady vigil was then ended by the Barlow Moody partnership and when Moody and Tom Williamson struck again Dunnington were 6 down with another 100 required for victory. As with the Park’s innings the lower order came to the rescue as Adam Dyson (68) and Jay Snowden (29 no) steered the visitors towards their target. Williamson made it interesting with two further wickets but the visitors eased home with two wickets and 9 deliveries in hand.
A close encounter which will boost the Park’s spirits for this weekend’s encounter when they host high flying Civil Service. The Harpers man of the match award was shared by Rich Foster and Darren Moody and the match ball was generously sponsored by Hagston Butchers.
Londesborough Park 2nd XI 178-9 (D Moody 42, L Stephenson 36, R Foster 32 no, J Andrew 3-6) Dunnington 2nd XI 179-8 (A Dyson 68, J Tattersall 37, J Snowden 29, R Foster 3-24, T Williamson 3-45)