Cup final appearance only 80 overs away

Published on 27th July 2006 in Sport

GOOLE TOWN?S cricketers are enjoying the high summer weather, and after their second team reached the final of the Cropwise Cup last Sunday (see report), it is down to the first team this Sunday.

After a stunning victory over Studley Royal last Sunday week by 40 runs at Westfield, they now entertain Driffield No. 2 in the Readman Cup semi final at Westfield, wickets pitched 2pm.

Forget the recent league defeat at Kelleythorpe, cup cricket is a completely different ball game, and you can ask Studley that.

They were stunned in their quarter final tie by a Goole side who bowled and fielded as if their lives depended on it, all this after posting a no more than average 160 in their 40 overs.

Goole?s innings started quietly, but appeared to be building well towards the end of the first quarter with Gaurav Kapoor making a fine 53 supported by Mark Shipp and Steve Foster, whose batting appears to be getting better and better the older he gets.

However, the innings never gained momentum thanks to the seam bowling of Dave Tompkins, and the Mackle brothers and 160 all-out was a defendable but hardly formidable total.

Enter Richard Mann and Steve Hicks, who, in the absence of Dave England, made sure Studley got nowhere near the requirement.

Only Walmsley with 27, and a flourish of 32 from Australian Tompkins with 32, saw the visitors through the 100 mark, and Mark West?s 4-14 in the middle to late order saw Goole to their best win in many a season and this Sunday?s semi final with Driffield.

The Woldsmen comfortably disposed of Whitkirk in their quarter final and posted a daunting 305-4, with Robinson making an unbeaten 128 and Beckett 98.

Whitkirk replied with 219, but never had a hope of matching a run rate of 7.55 an over.

The good news for Goole will be the return of England, and Anthony Gibbins was able to keep wicket last Saturday, although he was only going to bat low in the order due to his injured arm.

However, his presence alone counts for a lot, and if the weather holds it should prove to be another exciting afternoon.

Get along and see if Goole can reach their first York Senior League final.