Oxenhope 237-6

Sowerby St Peters 188-8

THE weather relented and Oxenhope got back to action in the Spenser Wilson Halifax League Premier Division, grabbing a victory over Sowerby St Peters.

Put into bat, the home side put together a much improved batting performance where every player who got to the wicket made double figures.

Top scorer was Ben Howell (52) with Lewis Hopkinson (36 not out), Joel Fothergill (35) and Josh Tetley (35) all making valuable contributions in a total of 237 in the full 45 overs.

Aiden Green, Patrick Lennon and Martin Schofield took two wickets each for the visitors.

A brief rain interruption saw the target reduced to 226 from 43 overs and that looked a mountain to climb as Sowerby were reduced to 10-3.

Fothergill once again prominent with two of these wickets.

Ben Watkins (47) and Aiden Green (74) then put together a stand that threatened to turn the game on its head before Duncan Tetley broke the stand.

Green then looked in danger of running out of partners as Ben Howell took three quick wickets.

With the weather closing in, the 43 overs were completed with the visitors on 188 and a welcome 11 points for the home side.

Meanwhile, an under-strength Oxenhope II continued their struggle to avoid relegation at table-toppers Bradshaw and came off second best.

Put into bat, the home side made swift progress with the innings founded on a fine century from Jack Lee Ryan (103).

Luke Fleetwood and Robin Cusdin both took three wickets but were unable to retrain the free scoring home side as they posted a formidable total of 258.

Rain delays reduced that target to 219 off the 34 overs a total they never looked likely to trouble, Luke Fleetwood (26) and Spencer Hurd (31) made contributions but it was never going to be enough Elliot Reynolds (3-45) was the leading wicket-taker as Bradshaw retained their position at the top of the table.