Rogerson and Kitching dominate with the ball
Ovington Cricket Club saw four competitive games for our senior teams this weekend. There were career-best performances with the ball and a first ever win in senior cricket. Two of the four games also featured low-scoring innings, but surprisingly, it was not for an Ovington side.
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Seconds apply the pressure
The Second Team travelled to Thorpe Willoughby under captain Luke Smith, who in a last minute u-turn decided he did want to play after all. They took the field on a slightly green but perfectly good surface against a side who had been struggling for players all week. Jack Eckersley-Wilson bowled quick and caused all sorts of problems for the Thorpe top-order. He went for just 9 runs from his seven over spell. But it was at the other end where the damage in the wickets column was done. Even so, there was at least three dropped catches and a comical missed run-out. A combination of good bowling and poor shot-selection saw Simon Rogerson take a career-best 6-15.
At the other end, Harry Eckersley-Wilson took 2-13 from his five overs, significantly helped by a scintillating catch from Dick Buckley. Fielding on the leg-side 45′, diving low to his left, he took an improbable catch to the surprise of even himself. It was just one of many highlights as Ovington dismissed Thorpe Willoughby for just 43.
Smith’s delight in Ovington win
The reply from Ovington was scratchy in the extreme, perhaps expected given the low score and the unwillingness to get out. There was some good bowling from the hosts to be fair, who did stick at it. The target was met after 17 overs, with Tom Irwin’s 24 not out not one to savour. The match though will be memorable for some for different reasons. Simon Rogerson’s career-best 6-15 the obvious one. Harry Eckersley-Wilson was also celebrating what he believed to be a first win in senior cricket. Given his bowling performance yesterday, it won’t be long before he gets a second.
Another storyline yesterday was Luke Smith, promoted to the second team captaincy over the winter, secured a first competitive win as a captain since 2019. The win was especially apt as it came at the same ground where he took a hugely inexperienced side last season and was comprehensively beaten. Smith, after the match and holding back tears, said:
“This is one of the greatest moments of my life so far”
Would the two short runs make a difference?
The early finish meant that some members of the second teams were able to visit the First Team who hosted Malton & Old Malton II on the Little Knavesmire.
Ovington (sponsored by Athletica Physiotherapy) lost the toss and were put into bat. They did not get off to a good start at all and were 35-3 when last weeks top-scorer Joe Whale was dismissed for 12. A revival came as all the batters numbered 4 through 9 contributed with at least a double figure total. Matty Roberts (32), Neil Metcalfe (26), Tom Armes (26) and Stefan Littlewood (15) helped see Ovington to 133-7. Tom and Colin Palmer for Malton taking three wickets apiece.
There was still a few overs left and it was Jack Walmsley who took the bull by the horns. He scored 39 from just 32 balls, including five boundaries as he helped see his side go from 133-7 to a far more defendable 195-8. His innings was blighted by his involvement in two short runs. An undignified way to cost his side runs. Would that make a difference overall?
Ovington’s Kitching just too good
No, it turned out. Dom Kitching’s 4-18 alongside Jack Walmsley’s 2-13 left the visiting Malton & Old Malton side at 16-6. The game was well and truly over. Captain Benji Busby mopped up the tail with 3-9 as Ovington dismissed Malton for just 47 all out. Another confidence-boosting win in a new division for the First Team. They are up to 6th now in their twelve team league.
Webb spoils century party
The early finish saw both teams converge on Millthorpe School to watch the conclusion of the Third Team game vs Heworth III. They’d earlier missed a fine knock from Micky Bristow of Heworth agonisingly be dismissed by Albert Webb on 99 as the away side racketed up a formidable 219 from their 40 overs. There was definitely promise from the Ovington bowling attack. Seth Young went for just 4 an over in his 2-32, with Joe Fowke only go for just 5.5 an over in his spell.
Walton and Mason with fine knocks
Ovington got behind the run-rate and perhaps with memories of their 33 last season vs this very same team, erred on the side of caution. They reached 58-3 off 24 overs and a win from this stage looked improbable. Opener Graham Walton though stuck around, grafted hard in his innings and then struck some brilliant shots to reach a half-century, eventually being dismissed for 56. At the other end, James Mason, making a rare appearance, hit a blistering 28 from 18 deliveries. It wasn’t enough to the reach the target total, but was a promising and competitive innings from the Ovington batting line-up. We are making progress.
Firsts make Sunday Church visit
The first-round of the T20 cup saw Ovington (sponsored by Atheltica Physiotherapy) travel to Church Fenton. An 11am start to accommodate a bonanza of cricket at the venue, it saw another blistering display of bowling from Dom Kitching. He came on first change as he took 4-11 from his 3.3 over spell. Dom Everard and Dick Buckley took two wickets apiece as they restricted the home side to 104 all out. Tom Brough (29) and their captain Martin Charlton (25) were the top-scorers. Fans of the IPL would be expecting this total to be reached with a minimum of fuss, but with Jos Butler not available, it instead was up to Charlie Buckley and co to get Ovington over the line.
Ovington chase comes to a juddering halt
The chase did not start well, 15-2 in the fifth over. It recovered well and with Tom Armes and Tom Irwin at the crease, Ovington were 63-3, having hit 14 off the previous over and with seven remaining, looked in the driving seat. Then, it started to go wrong when Armes was caught for 23 in the 14th over. It led to a wicket falling in pretty much every over that followed it. Two run outs did not help as it was left to Busby and Dick Buckley to salvage the game. Requiring 15 to win off the last over and managed just four as Ovington were defeated by ten runs. Armes and Irwin (20) were the top-scorers.
The defeat does mean however that the Funday will be easier to organise this year. We will have more news about our Junior sides, including an inspired ‘treble’ coming later in the week.