A trip to the seaside for Britcom sponsored Londesborough Park’s first team last Saturday saw a much improved batting display and a flurry of important wickets at the tail end of the hosts’ innings together with the ultimate reward of 30 points against Scarborough’s second string.
Following the now almost obligatory loss of the toss the Park’s openers James Hanley and James Beevers made an encouraging start, producing a partnership of 66 before Beevers lost his wicket for 35. A rare outing for Ben Lewis saw him contribute 22 in a second wicket partnership of 57 as Hanley posted his half century which he expanded to 66 until he was stumped. Skipper Tom Eagling continued the run flow, aided by cameos from Michael Drewery and Will Stephenson, and took the Park’s total above 200 for the first time since early May. Eagling finally succumbed for 51 as the Park posted a competitive 214 for 7.
The hosts made a respectable start to the run chase before Joe Shingles made the initial breakthrough with 41 on the board. A change of pace from Tom Williamson then did for opener Mark Cook (38) and Beevers took a return catch to dismiss Padmore for 17. The Park then had to remain patient as James Bryant (42 including 5 fours and 3 sixes) and Bradley Milburn (44) dominated the middle overs, adding 58 for the fourth wicket until Ciaran Brooke bowled Bryant. Two quick wickets for Williamson swung the contest back in the balance and Beevers removed key man Milburn and Snowball to leave the hosts 8 down with 17 required. A final blast from Shingles was too good for the Scarborough tail and the Park claimed a hard earned victory by 16 runs.
A team award for the Harpers man of the match award for a win which sees the Park move 18 points clear of the drop zone.
Londesborough Park 1st XI 214-7 (J Hanley 66, T Eagling 51, J Beevers 35, M Graves 3-43) Scarborough 2nd XI 198 (B Milburn 44, J Bryant 42, M Cook 38, J Shingles 3-26, J Beevers 3-41, T Williamson 3-55)
The Red Lion sponsored 2nd XI entertained the second XI of high flying Whitkirk and gave them a good run for the money before just failing to hang on for a draw.
The visitors made good inroads against the Park’s pace attack, openers Craig Shipton (70) and Robert Flynn (58) enjoying a first wicket stand of 122 before the reduced pace of Steve Mudd finally stemmed the tide as he took the first two wickets. Dan Howard ensured Andrew Mason’s stay at the wicket was minimal and Mudd added two more victims to his tally, but not before the visitors had accumulated 228 by the tea interval, aided by 35 extras including an alarming 20 wides!
The Park’s response was positive with the new opening pairing of Ian Hodson and Ed Smith both scoring 31. Despite Ed Rook falling cheaply the momentum was maintained by Sam Dodd (28), Darren Moody and an excellent knock from Dan Howard. Unfortunately as the innings neared its conclusion the Park’s tail fell away, leaving Howard high and dry on 70 not out as Mudd was run out off the final delivery of the penultimate over with the score on 201. Whitkirk attempted to match the Park’s wayward deliveries by bowling 17 wides of their own.
Howard took the fish and Mudd the chips from the Harpers man of the match award and Hall & Featherstone kindly sponsored the match ball.
Whitkirk 2nd XI 228-5 (C Shipton 70, R Flynn 58, S Mudd 4-58) Londesborough Park 2nd XI 201 (D Howard 70 no, I Hodson 31, E Smith 31, S Dodd 28, R Flynn 5-29