Warner stars in Seconds Yapham success

Cricket Club based in South Bank, York

Warner stars in Seconds Yapham success

Two of our Senior cricket teams were in action this weekend. As some of our stalwarts of last season returned to the fray, it was instead a more unlikely individual who starred for the second team.

Top-order batting woes

The Second Team hosted Yapham II on the Little Knavesmire. There was a large attendance nearby but the majority weren’t paying any attention to the cricket. With more attention on the large inflatables from Hamilton Panthers. Ovington’s skipper Luke Smith, fresh off his first competitive in years win last week, had an abundance of batters at his disposal with plenty of tough selection decisions. Jacob Lamb, Tom Irwin and Stefan Littlewood, among the returning Harry Buckley, consisted of four of the top five in the batting order. All names around the First Team in some weeks.

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Batting first was the sensible choice but Ovington did not get off to a good start. Lamb and Simon Halford-Thompson were dismissed in consecutive overs with Harry Buckley falling for 17 not long after. Top-order wickets continued to fall regularly and when Tom Irwin was dismissed for 21 after a smart catch in the slips, Ovington were 60-6.

Jacob Lamb with an impressive looking drive vs Yapham on the Little Knavesmire (Luke Smith)
Harry Buckley gets his front foot forward to defend against the Yapham bowling (Pic: Luke Smith)

Warner inspired recovery

Few would have predicted pre-match that Dave Warner, who himself thought he would be out of contention for a place in the team, would come up trumps in the batting department. In-form after runs in both the second and third teams this campaign, he got over a scratchy start with some excellent shot-making. Gaining runs all over the ground, his innings included some spectacular off-side drives. He didn’t give any chances throughout and carried the remainder of the innings. Taking Ovington from 60-6 to 141 all out. The only blight on his innings was his omission of saluting the pavilion when he reached his fifty. Warner fell for the last wicket for 53, the innings coming off 49 deliveries and including nine boundaries. It was Warner’s second fifty in senior cricket. For the visitors, Gareth Dexter took 4-28 and Mike Newhouse 3-24 and Tom Beattie with 2-32.

Dave Warner received an excellent reception after his innings of 53 against Yapham.

Jack Eckersley-Wilson with exciting opening spell

Like in the first innings, top-order runs were hard to come by. Yapham found themselves at 25-4. Jack Eckersley-Wilson taking all four wickets in an impressive opening spell. Again though, a middle-order revival put the batting team back into contention. It was Matthew Atkinson who was the mainstay of the Yapham middle-order, eventually fell for 56 off Dick Buckley. Atkinson’s wicket meant Yapham were 95-6. Tom Beattie then took over from Atkinson to be the main hope for the away side. He batted sensibly, getting runs from the bad balls. Even though wickets fell at the other end, his presence always meant his side had a chance.

Crucial run out the defining moment

The crucial moment came in the 37th over. With a defensive field set in order to give Beattie a single, he hit a no-ball through to long-on. He hit it cleanly to man-of-the-match Dave Warner. That pick up and throw, alongside some smart work from Jack Eckersley-Wilson meant that Ovo could capitalise on a mix-up. Beattie was out of his ground run out for 25. Eckersley-Wilson took a wicket with the very next delivery to close the show, ending up on 5-23. Another five-wicket-haul in senior cricket for the 17 year old.

Another success for Smith

Ovington’s superior ground-fielding that likely won the day, with some tidy catches included in the mix. Vital runs saved and taking #chances when they came to them. Eckersley-Wilson’s 5-23 was notable but Warner’s contributions with the bat and in the field made it a day to remember. Given his morning warm-up consisted of a 04:30am Kayak trip along the River Ouse. Luke Smith has considered it becoming part of his pre-match ritual as well. He may well be thwarted by a suitable craft being incompatible with his new VW motor.

City break for First Team

The First Team (sponsored by Athletica Health Physiotherapy) visited Ripon fresh off their superb league bowling performance. Returning to the fray was Tom Cookson, who has spent the UK winter plying his trade in African T20 competitions. William Johnston also returned who has also been racking up the air miles. He travelled a considerable distance to join up here on Saturday afternoon. He might have wished he’d have done something else with his afternoon after being dismissed at 75-7. The majority of the Ovington top-order failed to handle conditions and sharp bowling from Ripon’s Jake Briscombe. Only two Ovington batters made double figures. Neil Metcalfe (17) and Jack Walmsley (19, including another short run) could only help Ovington get to 92 all out.

Opening bowlers inspired by Chicken wraps.

After tea in the picturesque pavilion, where one Ovington bowler misidentified a Chicken Wrap. The away side made hay against the Ripon top-order. Jack Walmsley and Dom Kitching caused all sorts of problems and had Ripon at 16-5. They didn’t dislodge Rob Taylor though, but he eventually fell next to put Ripon at 46-6 for a well-made 38. As in the second team game though, the middle-order revival occurred once again. Wickets were at a premium from there on. Busby removed #8 Sam Wood in an economical spell of bowling, they still needed three wickets.

Jack Walmsley top-scored with 19 and took 3 wickets against Ripon.

Crucial dropped chance ended all hopes

The last key moment in the game came with a dropped catch. Tom Willock had batted well but gifted an easy chance to the Ovington fielders. Unfortunately, perhaps with Sam Ryder’s Eurovision chances on their mind, the simple chance was dropped and it meant Willock ended up on 38 not out as Ripon won by three wickets. Ovington’s batting though was their Achilles heel once again.

Senior week ahead

The Third Team had no game due to a concession by Thorpe Willoughby II. We wish the opposition well in the next few weeks as they try to attract new players.

Next week for the Senior cricket sides see two teams in Cup action. The Third Team host Acomb III at Millthorpe School on Saturday. The Seconds travel to this week’s rivals in Yapham on Sunday due to ground unavailability. The First Team, scheduled for a home game, travel to Crayke due to York Races facing Rufforth. Crayke do not have a Saturday senior cricket side, instead an Evening League team.