Close neighbours Pocklington, in geographical terms and
Ebor 2 rankings, travelled to the Park on Saturday for an important derby match.
Pocklington won the toss and invited Londesborough I to bat first. Londesborough
started very positively, hitting 32 from the first 7 overs, until the rain
intervened. After the rain break runs proved harder to come by in the reduced overs
match, with the Park finding themselves on 59-2 in the 22nd over. Londesborough
then made the most of the remaining overs thanks to a 3rd wicket
partnership of 79 between Tom Jennings (52) and Lucas Stephenson (41). A final entertaining
flourish by Tom Eagling, who scored 39* from just 14 balls including four 6’s
and two 4’s, brought the total to a very competitive 180 in their allocated overs.
Joe Speak was the pick of the Pocklington bowlers with 3-38.
Pocklington set about their target of 181 in 36 overs but
found it difficult to find the required run rate, with only 40 runs on the board
at the half-way stage. Dan Littlewood top scored with 34, but tight bowling by
all the Park bowlers kept victory in their sights; Lucas Stephenson taking 1-17,
James Beevers 1-25 and Martin Pearson 2-28. But it was Scott Hardwick’s impressive
haul of 5-35 that turned the match firmly in Londesborough’s favour. With 9
wickets down and one over to go, Tom Williamson was introduced to the fray and calmly
took the 10th wicket with just one ball to spare. An excellent team performance,
securing another 30 points for the Park and meaning that they need just four
more points from their last two games to guarantee promotion to Division 1,
even if their close rivals secure maximum points in their final games.
LPCC: 180-4 (Tom Jennings 52, Lucas Stephenson 41, Tom
Eagling 39*, Joe Speak 3-35)
Pocklington: 107-10 (Dan Littlewood 34, Martin Pearson
2-28, Scott Hardwick 5-35)
The second team looked forward to their trip to Cawood
II this weekend and the prospect of a game of cricket; a rare event this
season. Their enthusiasm was rewarded with a great 30-point victory. Cawood were
asked to bat first, and excellent bowling by all of the Park bowlers saw them
all out for 93 runs in the 35th over, despite being 41 without loss
at one stage. Steve Mudd (4-22) took two wickets with his first two deliveries,
and Oliver Rook impressed again with three wickets in one over in his haul of 5-16,
which was aided by two stumpings by John Coote and a catch by his Dad. Matty
Dunn and Chris Roper also bowled tidily in a great team performance. Mathew Stead
top scored for Cawood with 32 runs.
Londesborough’s reply didn’t go to script initially,
with Stuart Morrow (3-20) and Neil Reader (3-31) scuppering the opening batsmen.
But Charles Rook, with a much-anticipated return to cricket and joining son Oliver
for their first match together, took control of the game at 47-6 and hit a match-winning
46. His innings included six 4’s and three 6’s, the win consolidating the Park’s
third place in Ebor 4 Division.
Cawood: 93-10 (Matthew Stead 32, Steve Mudd 4-22,
Oliver Rook 5-16)
LPCC II: 94-7 (Charles Rook 46, Stuart Morrow 3-20,
Neil Reader 3-31)
Londesborough Park would like to thank this week’s match
ball sponsors Michael Roe Motor Engineer and Market Weighton Mowers.