Spinners turn the screw
Published on 22nd May 2008 in Sport
Mark Holmes, a big-hitting 45 in a stand of 78 in 24 minutes and just six overs with Neil Foster. (24-05-55 GT)
Acomb 178-8
Goole Town I 256
More evidence from Saturday's Premier Division game at Acomb that Goole Town Cricket Club are more than just making up the numbers in their first season at the top level of York Senior League cricket, writes Graeme Wilson.
They came away from the leafy suburbs of York with 27 points in a convincing winning draw, which almost turned into an outright win as Acomb tried to commit cricketing suicide in the closing stages, but those points were more than enough for them to retain second place in the table.
Of course it is far too early, and dare one say, churlish to be making predictions of where they can finish, but playing together as a team, which they have done so far in all four games, augers well for stiffer tasks ahead.
Goole had first use of a firm track after being put in to bat, and Anthony Gibbins set off like a house on fire once more, surviving one dropped catch at mid off but punishing anything delivered in the slot.
He went for 29, including five fours, and when Ashley Hulme and Lee Hayward departed, the latter to a dubious caught behind, a rebuilding job had to be done,
And it fell to captain Neil Foster and Kevin Murphy to do that, ever watchful at first, but then with an increasing freedom and the mantle was taken on by Mark Holmes, who blasted 45 off 23 balls in 28 minutes as he and his captain took Goole through the 200 mark.
They looked set for a score in excess of 280 but lost wickets in the final overs, Holmes himself leg before when the noise of the ball on bat could have been heard in York City centre three miles away.
Foster was bowled for 79, another excellent innings from the captain and Steve Hicks was unbeaten on 24 as the innings closed on 256 with four balls of the 50th and final over remaining, Dan Murphy another victim too of a dubious decision leg before.
Some of the Acomb playing staff were setting off for Lords on a stag weekend immediately after the game, and although the opening pair were not amongst them, they did set off as if they had a bus to catch.
Leon Sacks and Paul Hemingway punished Will Sparks, and to a lesser extent Steve Hicks as they raced to 87 in 17 overs before the spinning duo of Dave England and Ashley Hulme took over.
England broke through to have Hemingway trapped in front for 39 and they slumped to 99-3 with Tute out off Hulme for a duck and Dickenson caught by Neil Foster at cover off England's slower ball.
After that, despite lengthy stays at the crease and a crazy run out which clearly affected Sacks, who laboured to 91, the innings lost momentum totally and their indiscipline to a degree near the end almost gave Goole the full points as Beech and David Sykes held on for the last eight balls with eight wickets down.
The spin of the Goole duo seeing seven wickets fall for 104 runs in 38 overs, England 4-59 and Hulme 3-45.