Ovington victorious in Stamford Bridge battles

There was plenty of cricketing action over the weekend for Ovington supporters and those keen enough could have made two trips to Stamford Bridge. Both our Firsts and Seconds travelled there this weekend. The Thirds were also in action at Millthorpe School to host South Cave & Brantingham.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for their continued support.

The First Team (Sponsored by Athletica Physiotherapy) made the trip to Stamford Bridge in confident mood. Both Dom Kitching and Jack Walmsley returned but weren’t immediately needed as skipper Benji Busby won the toss and batted.

Openers get Ovington off to great start

Due to some erratic bowling at one end, Ovo got off to an excellent start. Thomas Cookson (33) scored at better than a run-a-ball before mistiming one off the other opening bowler Thomas Holmes. Ovo’s other opener, Joe Whale (43) was more considered than his partner but alongside Jacob Lamb they put together a nice little partnership. Lamb was bowled with the score at 83-2.

Reliability in the middle-order has been a strong point for Ovington this season but that wasn’t replicated here, as when Whale fell soon after to a controversial stumping, the batting side lost wickets at regular intervals. Dave Langton’s loopy spin on paper was easy pickings but his guile caused the Ovington batting all sorts of issues. He eventually landed figures of 6-55 from his twelve overs. Outside the opening partnership, seven got starts but scored no more than 24. A total of 186 all out was set, which didn’t quite look enough given the conditions.

Kitching heavily involved in top-order wickets

The returning Dom Kitching took the early wicket of Stamford Bridge captain Robbie Stondage but #2 and #3 Holmes and Murphy looked comfortable for the most part against the Ovington attack. A moment of magic thus followed though as Kitching, off his own bowling, fielded the ball, turned and had a direct hit on the stumps. It ran Murphy out for 16. Kitching was involved again not long after with a brilliant caught and bowled. That put the score at 33-3 and put Ovington really into the ascendancy. Dave Langton batted sensibly but when Holmes fell off the bowling of Dom Everard, things became very difficult for the home side.

Professional fielding performance all-round

A great fielding performance followed as Stefan Littlewood got involved in the run-out stakes, his throw helping to dismiss Langton for 21. Jacob Lamb, to the surprise of everyone took a smart catch. The middle to lower order was tidied up by Tom Cookson (3-9) and Benjamin Busby (2-5) as Ovington were 110 run victors. Dom Kitching took 2-11. That win puts Ovington in a share of third. A strange league table with teams at all ranks able to be competitive against each other. We host Osbaldwick on Saturday on the Little Knavesmire, where musical entertainment will be provided via the Pride Festival going ahead across the road.

Rogerson not rewarded for smart bowling

For the second day running, Stamford Bridge sides found scoring runs at home difficult as some extremely economical bowling from Simon Rogerson helped keep the run-rate in the early part of the game to less than 3 an over. His ten over spell went unrewarded in terms of wickets but consisted of five maidens. It was the change bowling doing the damage as spin duo Dick Buckley (3-23) and U15 Albert Webb (2-27) ensured the home side barely reached a hundred. It was though, some what of a recovery given the dire straits at 71-7.

Top three dismissed without scoring

Unfortunately the Ovington top-order could not replicate the good start the day prior as all of the top three fell without scoring. Extras did the heavy lifting and at 7-3, it required a real recovery effort. Albert Webb and Luke Smith steadied the ship before Webb was dismissed for 10 and now 25-4. It was the introduction of David Warner to the innings that sprung the scoring into life. They got the score to 66 before Smith was dismissed LBW for 12 in his slowest innings so far. It was Warner and Cole though who did not hang about getting the remaining 40 runs. Helped by 28 extras in total, as Ovington ran out five wicket winners. Warner ended up on 43 not out, Cole on 12.

Thirds proud batting effort

So, could the Third Team make it three out of three for our weekend senior sides? It was a tough ask against relegated South Cave & Brantingham. Fragile last season, the Thirds batting has toughened up this campaign especially in the top and middle order. All of the top six got starts with totals between 16-28. Albert Webb’s best senior total of 27 included. It provided the very reasonable total of 164-7 from their forty overs. Oliver Thrift (28) top-scored.

Visitors opening pair do the damage

South Cave are a batting team it seemed from their performances vs our Seconds last season and it showed. Openers Adam Lucy and Pai put on 127 and an Ovo win subsequently was out of the question. Ovington fought hard until the end with Ajantha Egodwatta, Josh Blower, Albert Webb and Harry Eckersley-Wilson getting a wicket apiece. It provided two bowling bonus points for the home side. South Cave got the total with eight over to spare. It was however, a very respectable performance against a tough side in this division.