First Team Back to Winning Ways
A familiar pattern is emerging for Ovington during the 2025 season. Week four once more saw a Sunday cup victory to follow up 2 wins out of the 3 league games on the Saturday. This week it was the 1st XI’s turn to savour cup victory whilst it was the 2nd XI who had a Saturday to forget. Along the way there were 50’s, 5 wicket hauls and other eye catching performances to keep the fans happy
Saturday 17th May, Ovington 1st XI vs Easingwold 2nd XI
Ovington: 237/8 (45); Lamb 76, Whale 41
Easingwold: 92/9 (All Out) (23.1); Copeland 42; McDonough 5/20, D Buckley 4/14
Ovington won by 145 runs
Scorecard: https://ovington.play-cricket.com/website/results/6777235
Ovington 1st XI returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion on Saturday at home against Easingwold. Led by a standout bowling performance by player of the match Jordan McDonough (sponsored by the Bartlett Family), who was backed up by impactful contributions from Jacob Lamb (sponsored by Badger Elite Cricket Coaching) and Dick Buckley (sponsored by Josh Fletcher). Despite missing several key players, Ovington showed they have strength in depth and can bounce back after the disappointment of two consecutive losses.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ovington started steadily with Joe Whale (sponsored by York & Selby Tutors) and Alex Garner Steel (available to sponsor) putting on 45 in 12 overs for the opening partnership that provided a grand platform on a bright, sunny day promising good run scoring. Whale looked comfortable, picking up on the loose deliveries offered by Easingwold’s opening bowlers with his most eye-catching shot being a lovely lofted drive over cover against the off spin of George Pears. Despite a positive start though, Ovington threatened to fall foul of the same malaise which hit them in their previous game against Pickering, with players getting in then failing to kick on to a big total. When Whale was caught at square leg, Ovington were 81/3 in the 22nd over, at risk of giving away a good start.
Enter Lamb, the star batsman for Ovington this season. This author is running out of original things to say about Lamb’s batting, so consistent and fruitful has he been. His innings tend to follow a pattern: a watchful start, targeting only the loosest of bowling; energetic running between the wickets to keep the score ticking then upping the run rate as he gets his eye in and the fielding team’s energy starts to drop. His 76 here was no different, featuring Lamb’s trademark flowing drives through the off side as he held the innings together playing fluently whilst others around him took the attack to the bowlers. Lamb only fell off the penultimate ball of the innings to rapturous applause from his team mates.
Partnerships of 49 with 1st XI debutant, Ash Garner Steel (available to sponsor), and 39 with Olly Garner Steel (available to sponsor) helped push Ovington well beyond 200, giving the bowlers plenty of runs to play with. A final total of 237 off their allotted 45 overs looked promising, especially on a pitch which had shown hints of uneven bounce.
Easingwold’s reply was bright as captain Dan Copeland severely punished any erring in line and length to pick up regular boundaries. At 62/0, Ovington badly needed a breakthrough when McDonough was brought on. McDonough’s style, angling the ball in towards the stumps and bringing the ball back into the batsmen was perfect for the wicket. With his second ball, he got one to keep a little low and trap the batsman LBW.
From there, Easingwold’s innings unravelled alarmingly fast. McDonough picked up a second LBW in his next over before Buckley continued his fine bowling form of the season, inducing a false shot into the covers. Barely an over went by without a wicket at this stage, as McDonough and Buckley ran rampant through a depleted Easingwold batting line up. The highlight was McDonough’s well-earned fifth wicket, the ball nipping back into the batsman and clipping the top of off stump, giving the bowler his first five-wicket haul in an Ovington shirt. Buckley wrapped up the innings shortly after, bowling the number ten for his fourth wicket, completing a severe collapse for the away side who fell from 62/0 to 92 all out in a little under 11 overs. The win gave Ovington a boost into sixth place in the table, keeping them in touch with the front runners of the league, and creating daylight against the bottom three.
The Mire would not have to wait long to see another 1st XI victory, see further below for more details.
Saturday 17th May, Scholes 2nd XI vs Ovington 2nd XI
Ovington: 190/8 (40); Waidyaratne 53, Jillani 44*; Munir 2/16
Scholes: 192/4 (31.4); Kollesoff 70; Rogerson 2/27
Scholes won by six wickets
Scorecard: https://ovington.play-cricket.com/website/results/6779504
Ovington 2nd XI travelled to Scholes on a high, crossing the symbolic boundary of the A1 with a perfect record for the season. After a losing the toss Ovo were asked to bat and initially found the going tough. Accurate bowling and a pitch that was showing variable bounce from the off meant that runs were not easy to come by and wickets kept falling. None of the Ovington batsmen threw their wickets away, instead making the home side work for their rewards but none the less the 29 runs scored by Kareem Baqai was the highest score by any of the top order and a score of 64/5 caused some concern for the Ovington players. As it turned out, they needn’t have worried as Uwin Waidyaratne and Khurram Jillani then set about attacking the change bowling with abandon. Uwin proved himself particularly strong square of the wicket on his way to an exciting 53 runs and KJ also hit plenty of boundaries on his way to an unbeaten score of 44. By the end of the allocated 40 overs, the two left handers had pushed Ovington up to a very respectable 190/8 and had earned the gratitude of all of their team mates. Going out to field after the subsequent tea break, the Ovington players may have been forgiven for thinking that they were well in the match but little did they know that this would be the high point of their day.
From that point on, things took on a decidedly surreal turn. Giant birds circled in the sky ready to pick at the carcass of the Ovington players, bowlers lost their heads as easily as if they were made from Lego and fielders melted like clocks left in the sun as time itself seemed to give up. If anyone needed proof of the old adage that catches win matches then they needn’t look any further than this match as Ovington grassed a series of eminently takable chances. Ground fielding was no better with the scene set by one fielder in the gulley (who may or may not be writing this match report) deciding to dive straight over a ball in the first over of the innings to concede an early boundary and things only going downhill from there. The bowlers, who had watched the pitch show all sorts of variable bounce throughout the first innings, struggled to find the right length with plenty of deliveries taking the pitch out of the equation entirely and others bouncing right at the bowlers own feet. In amongst the carnage there were some positives to be taken. Simon Rogerson bowled a typically parsimonious 10 over spell taking 2 wickets for 27 runs with one of those wickets taken via the bucket hands of Sharoon Shahzad at midwicket. Sam Walsh also held onto a catch late in the game to give Spencer Fern (Sponsored by DWUFB) a wicket. KJ also showed his worth to the team with his left arm spin and although he didn’t take a wicket, he was responsible for the highlight of the innings when the Scholes opening batsmen tried to steal a single to backward square leg only for KJ to swoop, throw and smash the stumps with a direct hit that left clear daylight between the batsmen and the crease. The home team however played their innings to perfection. Latching onto the bad balls to pepper the boundaries, running hard and punishing the away team’s mistakes. In the end they were comfortable and well deserved victors, striking the winning runs with 6 wickets and more than 8 overs to spare.
Ovington 2nds will look to put their disappointment behind them and get some points out the upcoming bank holiday weekend double header.
Saturday 17th May, Pocklington 3rd XI vs Ovington 2nd XI
Pocklington: 124/10 (32); Fiorentini 29; Warner 3/32, Smith 3/34
Ovington: 125/8 (35.3); Baldwin 49, Warner 37; Fiorentini 4/17, Smith 4/17
Ovington won by two wickets
Scorecard: https://ovington.play-cricket.com/website/results/6780102
Ovington 3rd XI in turn travelled to the Pocklington Bowl and it must be said for a 3rd team pitch it was in immaculate condition. Luke Smith turned up with cucumbers and apples, once again showing that health is indeed wealth. Pock provided an excellent scorer and off everyone went for a jolly time. After losing another toss, Captain Dave Warner gathered the troops for his typical warning of heatstroke and possible lost match balls and once again was proved wrong.
Warner himself (Sponsored by Dunnington Landscapes) opened the bowling and bowled tripe for 2 overs to scuff the ball up but at the other end a rejuvenated Smith had a glint in his eye and a plan up his sleeve. Between Smith and Ranjan Bhattacharyya it soon developed into an unbelievable showing for Ovington. Smith started the ball running on the wicket tally with what was, in truth, a fortunate lbw but his subsequent work could never be considered a fluke. First Smith snaffled a potentially difficult catch off the bowling of Ranjan to dismiss the Pock dangerman captain and then he took the two huge wickets of the remaining Pock seniors. Ranjan returned the favour for the first of these by pocketing a catch for ages at square leg before Smith bamboozled top scoring Pock batsmen Fiorentini with turn and bounce to claim his third wicket.
After that Andy Baldwin and Will Ellis turned up the heat. Both playing their first matches of the season, they delivered ball after ball of play at your peril to take two and one wicket respectively whilst Warner came back on at the other other to throw some more slow stuff at the batsmen and take three more. Ovington’s fielding was outstanding throughout, Dom Carass on return and Will Stockton as ever were strong senior heads keeping things tight whilst Graham Walton and Kush Sehgal showed amazing hand speed as keeper and slip. Joe Naish showed willingness to sacrifice his knee for the greater good and with the choke on, the wickets fell at regular intervals. By the end of the 32nd over, Pock were 124 all out and it was a true team effort from the Ovington players.
Half time teas were top notch and Pock were great hosts. Between the full to the brim chicken sarnies and chocolate brownies for the annuls, the Ovington faithful made there way back with full bellies.
However, the start of the Ovo innings didn’t exactly go to plan. Some eyebrow raising umpiring decisions and very good bowling from Pocklington openers left Ovo on 19/5 and staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat.
But cometh the hour cometh the man. It was discussed pre-game who would win in a fight between a 100 men and 1 gorilla. Well this writer wants it noted, give me 100 Andy Baldwins and I’ll supply you one 1 stuffed Gorilla. The talk between Baldwin and Warner was confident and simple, let’s get to 30, then let’s get to 40, then 50 and so on they went. The bowlers were changed but the batsmen’s mindsets didn’t. A partnership of 88 between the two was almost faultlessly simple. Unfortunately, Baldwin fell 1 short of a very deserved 50 and Will Muskett joined his captain in the middle. Warner then hit a rare bad Fiorentini ball as hard as he possibly could, middled was the cry from the spectators as they stared expectantly at the boundary, but Pock captain Sumner had other ideas. He reached out a hand and it really did stick as he claimed an important catch. Warner walked and it was squeaky bottom time.
Ellis fell without scoring but had valuably taken up a few Fiorentini balls to close out his dangerous spell. So here comes Naish and Muskett. Naish had earlier battled a bad knee injury and a migraine but once the pads were on he was locked in. He saw 2 balls off with nerves of steel leaving the two young gents needing 4 to win. Muskett then wound back the arms and said thank you come again, smashing 4 runs to the cow boundary to see his side home and the Ovington faithful applauded loudly.
A win was, and always is, great but sometimes more important things shine through. The game was played as it should be, Pocklington were an advert for attitude and perseverance. Rarely do you see juniors fielding with such aggression and confidence. Ovington as they have done of recent times found a way, 11 players make a team and 11 players won the game. We go again next weekend.
Sunday 18th May, Ovington 1st XI vs Yapham 1st XI
Ovington: 156/5 (20); C Buckley 84*
Yapham: 128/10 (19.1); Holman 42, Wainwright 36*; Wright 3/11
Ovington won by 28 runs
Scorecard: https://ovington.play-cricket.com/website/results/6889902
Sunday. T20. Welcome to this year’s cup match cricket. Grey skies, biting winds and an uneven pitch reminded everybody that, despite the sunshine of recent weeks, this was still early season cricket in May. Ovington won the toss and chose to bat, hoping that scoreboard pressure would make chasing a challenge in imperfect conditions.
A reshuffled batting order for the shorter format saw captain Tom Armes (sponsored by CDA Energy Services Ltd) open up with Joe Whale (sponsored by York & Selby Tutors), however after a few early boundaries, both openers found themselves back in the pavilion each caught trying to keep the scoring rate high. From 26/2, Alex Garner Steel (available to sponsor) and player of the match, Charlie Buckley (sponsored by Sam Pangnell) built a solid partnership, settling into their respective roles well. Garner Steel proved happy to knock singles and rotate the strike whilst Buckley played with greater freedom, ticking boundaries off seemingly at will. In their partnership of 75, Buckley hit 52, finding gaps with skill and punishing bad balls ruthlessly. The pair ran particularly well together, putting pressure on the fielders and forcing errors on several occasions, including one errant throw evading everyone and going for four overthrows, Buckley the grateful beneficiary.
Yapham eventually prized the third wicket pair apart, and threatened a strong finish to their bowling effort, taking Ovington to 111/5 with some tighter bowling and solid fielding.
However, some late-innings fireworks from Buckley, ably supported by Freddie Foster (available to sponsor), took Ovington up to an imposing 156 from their 20 overs.
Yapham’s reply got off to a poor start, as Dom Kitching (sponsored by the Everard Family) picked up a wicket second ball, caught well after a brief juggle by Foster at mid-wicket. By now, the pitch was proving inconsistent and challenging for batsmen, with balls bouncing unevenly, and Yapham struggled to keep up with the rate. Whilst Jack Holman batted confidently, including savagely punishing Dick Buckley’s opening over, others around him failed to make an impression. Kitching and Buckley (sponsored by Josh Fletcher) picked up two wickets each in their four overs, leaving Yapham facing an uphill struggle at 55/4.
Stuart Wainwright joined Holman at the crease, and together they repaired the innings, putting on 44 together and setting a platform from which to challenge the chase properly. The introduction of Matthew Wright (sponsored by York’s Hidden History) into the bowling quickly ended the recovery though. Holman was bowled as he aimed a wild swing at one. Buckley Jr then cemented his reputation as one of the finest fielders in the league, running Matthew Bradford out with a direct hit from deep cover. A couple more wickets for Wright, put Yapham on the brink, going into the final over needing 29 to win, before a simple run out for Wright in his follow through ended the innings and secured Ovington the win, progressing to the next round of the Edward Readman Memorial Trophy, where they will face either New Earswick or Pickering.
The following week will prove a new challenge to Ovington as they face the task of having to put out six teams over the long bank holiday weekend. Whatever they outcome there, we wish all of Ovington players, officials and spectators the best and hope for an excellent festival of cricket all round.
Match reports by Matthew Wright, Simon Rogerson and Dave Warner. Photo by Luke Smith.