A second successive 30 point Saturday for Goole 1st XI ensured they kept tabs on near rivals Carlton Towers in pursuit of an immediate return to the Premier League.

Dringhouses were restricted to 158 all out following an impressive bowling and fielding display by the visitors.

A ‘ball of the century’ delivery from the consistent Ben Lamb saw opener and prolific run scorer Dave Simpson clean bowled for only 4 and when the dangerous Oliver Sherwood fell LBW to a ‘slider’, as Lamb began to stumble through his full repertoire, Goole were quickly on top.

Kevin Murphy soon introduced himself into the bowling attack and, in duo with Lamb, ensured scoring was limited, before picking up a couple of middle order wickets himself. Murphy and Lamb eventually ending the day with impressive and near identical figures of 2 wickets for 20 odd runs apiece from their allotted 12 overs.

In the meantime, Andy Simpson continued to frustrate the Goole bowlers with a workmanlike and patient batting performance before eventually falling for 91 to Louis Sugden, by a well-judged catch at long off by under 15 debutant Eddie Hasdell. This was the icing on the cake for Sugden who ended the day with 3 wickets – and was arguably unlucky not to take more – following a mesmerising 8 over first spell in the middle overs.

Ollie Ounsley finished off the Dringhouses innings by claiming 2 wickets – one of which was thanks to a terrific leg side stumping from Ben Earl which meant that a likely score of around 180 was well restricted.

In reply, in baking hot conditions, Goole soon got into their stride with Oscar Sugden and Ben Earl finding the boundary half a dozen times in 15 minutes before both departed in quick succession, in the teens, when both promised to make a big score.

Instead, it was left to the returning Ben Shelton and Ollie Ounsley to make hay in the sun.

Shelton, who was partly hampered from a recent hand injury, and Ounsley carried on the momentum set earlier by the openers, as they served up a batting exhibition on how to chase a ‘tricky’ target, on a ground that hasn’t seen many scores above 200 this year.

A partnership that exceeded 100 was littered with boundaries – 17 fours and 3 sixes – as the pair embraced the no-nonsense approach to batting that the captain has re-emphasised to his team in the last couple of games.

Shelton’s 65 run a ball innings ended with only four needed victory. Instead it was left to his close ally Ounsley to finish the job in his typical, no nonsense style, with a crashing boundary as he ended the day unbeaten on 56 from only 41 balls.