Mixed blend is the right ingredient

Published on 5th June 2008 in Sport

Osbaldwick 166-9

Carlton Towers 167-6

Carlton Towers finally broke their season duck and lifted themselves off the bottom of Division Two in the York Senior League, thanks to a four wicket win at Osbaldwick on Saturday.

It was a first success at Osbaldwick in the league and a timely one at that.

A poor run of form had to be changed and with the welcome return of skipper Jamie Pocklington, who made 22 in the Carlton Towers middle order, the side had much more balance to it.

The stars of the match were undoubtedly Darren Graves with the bat and Mark Spetch in the attack.

Graves followed up his undefeated 89 in the Readman Trophy success on Monday, with another unbeaten 50, and appears to have found a niche in the senior team at number three.

Spetch also continues to impress, the fourteen-year-old seems to mature with each game he plays. Having been a regular in the firsts and experiencing the highs and lows of club cricket, he ripped through the Osbaldwick batting order, taking 5-33 in a ten-over spell, his best return for the club's senior sides.

At one stage he had taken four of his wickets for five runs to put Carlton Towers in control.

Earlier, Osbaldwick made a bad start with the first three wickets falling for 11. Paul Wright opened up and kept it tight, conceding only two an over and dismissing one of the openers for a duck.

It took a fourth-wicket partnership of 59 to produce something of a rally until Spetch returned to the attack.

The Osbaldwick innings came to an end with a target set of 166-9.

In any other season such a score would not have been such a daunting prospect but with confidence below what it should be with the potential in the side and the lack of runs so far this term, the task needed some attention.

The start made by the Carlton Towers batsmen was assured. Paul Wright and Jonathan Dilks adding 64 for the first wicket, until the former was out for 35.

The batsmen then added 37 runs for the second wicket, before Dilks was out for 41 with the score on 101. Despite losing Mark Chambers, the skipper intervened to steer the Carlton Towers ship back on course.

When the last over came though, six runs were required for victory with four wickets remaining, and Darren Graves reached his 50, hitting a four with the second ball.

Carlton Towers II 119-2

Tadcaster Magnet II 118

Carlton Towers II continued their form in Division Five B with a third success in a row by defeating Tadcaster Magnet II at the Fishpond field in front of an audience including a pair of Swans and their family.

The result means that they have dropped only four points out of a possible 120 and are looking good to mount a serious challenge for promotion at the end of the season - a far cry from the last time the two sides played at the Fishpond in the last match of 2004, when the visitors celebrated promotion to Division Four with Towers condemned to Division Six for the first time.

The Tadcaster side of today missed a number of their previously influential players and it showed with the batsmen struggling against the bowling of David Squires and Steve Landers.

Squires eventually finished with figures of 4-25 from 11 overs. At one stage Tadcaster were reduced to 30-4 in their attempt to set a target.

After the introduction of under 14 player Will Brown into the attack, Tadcaster were finished off thanks to his 3-11 from seven overs, and has now taken eight wickets in the three matches that he has played this term.

The total appeared to be a task as difficult as taking sweets from a baby as Nick Kline scored his maiden half century for the side with 57, and Yorkshire Ladies player Robyn Still continued her fine form making an undefeated 31.

The pair added 88 for the second wicket. and Carlton Towers secured an eight wicket success after only 20 overs.

Forthcoming Fixtures

Thursday, June 5

Snaith and District Evening League

Tate and Lyle v Carlton Towers.

Saturday, June 7

Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League - Division Two

Carlton Towers v Beverley II.

Division Five B

Cawood II v Carlton Towers II.

HPH York Vale League Division Five

Selby IV v Carlton Towers III.