Londesborough Park’s first team has been involved in some tight
finishes in recent weeks and last Saturday’s home fixture against Acomb
2nd XI was no exception.
The Britcom boys were invited to bat
first and made an indifferent start, losing the previous week’s run
machine James Beevers for just a single and skipper Tom Eagling for 8.
Ben Lewis (32) and Lucas Stephenson pulled the Park around with a
partnership of 47 before three quick wickets lifted the visitors’
spirits. Stephenson continued to hold up one end and found an ally in
Tom Noble (20) who eventually became Paul Hemingway’s third victim with
the score on 118. A crucial, unbeaten seventh wicket stand of 59
between Stephenson (67 no) and a fine knock from opening bowler Joe
Shingles (38 no) ensured the Park took tea with a reasonably competitive
total of 177 for 6.
An early injury to Ciaran Brooke reduced the
Park’s bowling options slightly but his replacement Eagling made the
first breakthrough, keeper Joel Taylor taking the catch to dismiss his
counterpart James Fletcher for 6. The visitors notched up their half
century before the Park made further inroads, Rich Foster striking three
times to remove Leon Sacks (34), Paul Hemingway (16) and Matthew
Williams. Acomb’s skipper Dan Littlewood dug in, adding 39 with David
Darley until Beevers’ all-round talents shone through with three
wickets, reducing the visitors to 135 for 7. Shingles returned to the
action to remove John Askham and then took the key scalp of Darley (56),
leaving Acomb’s 10 and jack to face a couple of overs for survival
which they accomplished, the visitors finishing on 169 for 9.
This
result sees the Park maintain 6th place in Ebor division two but, more
crucially, maintain their status in the division for next season. Lucas
Stephenson and James Beevers were the bookies favourites for the
Harpers man of the match award and F Leake Butchers kindly sponsored the
match ball. The first team’s season concludes with two away fixtures,
starting with a trip to champions elect Carlton Towers on Saturday.
Londesborough
Park 1st XI 177-6 (L Stephenson 67 no, J Shingles 38 no, B Lewis 32, P
Hemingway 3-50) Acomb 2nd XI 169-9 (D Darley 56, L Sacks 34, R Foster
3-29, J Beevers 3-47, J Shingles 3-52)
The Red Lion sponsored 2nd
XI endured another difficult day when they travelled north to Malton,
finishing on the wrong end of a relatively short contest.
The
hosts’ skipper won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the Park to
take first knock. Ian Hodson did his best at the top of the order, top
scoring with 27 but Billy Spruyt with 13 was the only other batsman to
manage double figures as the hosts’ bowling attack proved too strong,
the Park all out in the 29th over for 60.
A modicum of success
for the Park’s bowlers saw Darren Moody and Billy Spruyt both claim a
wicket despite Malton earning a straightforward victory in the 10th
over.
Londesborough Park 2nd XI 60 (I Hodson 27, S Oldfield 3-9) Malton & Old Malton 2nd XI 64-2