Oxenhope 138-5

Shelf-Northowram Hedge Top 136

OXENHOPE got back to winning ways with a comfortable five-wicket victory at Shelf-Northowram Hedge Top (HT) in Spenser Wilson Halifax League – Premier Division.

On a wicket giving the bowlers assistance, Liam Dyson was the principle wicket taker with excellent figures of 5-76 off 18 overs.

Scott Mallinson, three, and Joel Fothergill, two, took the remaining wickets, as the home side were dismissed for 136, with Josh Tetley taking two catches and two stumpings behind the timbers.

With the tricky batting conditions, victory was never a foregone conclusion, but Lewis Hopkinson continued his fine from with an unbeaten 57.

Contributions from Joe Ousey (34) and Fothergill (22) were enough to secure the full 12 points.

Meanwhile, an understrength Oxenhope seconds came up against the newly-merged Shelf-Northowram HT team, who were too strong all round for them, in an eight-wicket defeat.

Put in to bat, the home side struggled to make any impression on the bowling of Robert Ramsden who had 11 maidens in his 18 overs, taking 4-31.

Only Graeme Ellis (32), Hamzah Khan (16) and Annas Tanveer (19) reached double figures, as Dominic Prentice's 4-40 cleared up the tail.

Chasing 103, the visitors accomplished this in just 18 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Meanwhile, Oxenhope progressed in the Keighley 20/20 Cup as the game was dominated by an unbeaten 148 not out from in-form Lewis Hopkinson.

With 11 sixes and 16 fours, he took the young Keighley bowling attack apart.

Ably assisted by Josh Fleetwood (52no), they propelled the home side to 207-1.

Chapman (30), Storton (18) were the only significant contributors in a run chase that never really got going and finished on 106-9, with Fothergill taking three wickets and Dyson two.