Nidderdale League: Smith hammers Hampsthwaite with quick-fire '˜nine-fer'

Smith destroyed the Hamps’ batting card with nine wickets in 7.5 overs as the hosts were rolled over for just 48.

Only number nine Anthony Johnson put up any resistance to Smith with a brief 17 as Hamps were unable to cope with the strike bowler.

Jonny Duffy took the other wicket, the fifth of the innings to remove number three Richard Barratt. Leonard used only 8.3 overs of the second new ball to reach the target with two wickets down.

Darley sit above Leonard on nett run rate in second place and had an equally comprehensive win over Alne.

A destructive four bowling effort dismissed Alne for just 92 on their home track. Rory Sands (3-44) and Brad Stephens (2-12) did the damage in the early overs to allow lively paceman Michael Beecroft (4-18) to knock over the tail.

In reply, openers Chris Gill (49no) and Jonathan Rice (42no) required just 60 balls to reach the target without losing a wicket. Ouseburn remain the team to catch at the top and were far too strong for struggling Pateley Bridge in a 130-run victory.

Sam Parker struck 71 alongside opening partner Adam Fisher (55) as Ouseburn sized up at 236-6.

Ouse’ captain David Cummings then took three early wickets to set Bridge back but it was left for Parker to seal the man of the match prize with five wickets as Bridge were undone for 106.

Birstwith’s strong start to the 2016 season continued with a 70-run triumph over fellow top tier newbies West Tanfield.

James Riley steered his side up to 223-9 with a knock of 65 which was backed up by late hitting from Gary Collett (24), Darren Robinson (30no) and Will Hubbert (25).

Jonny Luty took four wickets for Tanfield but they buckled with the bat and were all out for 152.

A 172-run opening stand between Pat Gannon and Nick Robinson sent Spofforth on the way to victory against Helperby.

Robinson hit three sixes in compiling 87 while Gannon finished up six runs behind on 81 as both departed inside nine balls of each other.

Spofforth’s total of 243-7 was too hot for Helperby, who battled to 171-8 after losing three of their top four for ducks thanks to Daniel Spink’s half century.

Winless Knaresborough Forest remain rooted to the bottom of the table after losing to fellow strugglers Bishop Thornton.

Thornton reached 215-9 from the opening 45 overs before sending Forest packing for 147.

In-form Masham are the frontrunners to leap into Division One next season after extending their unbeaten start to the season to six games.

Wicketkeeper Andrew Smith sparked a comprehensive success over Thornton-le-Moor at the weekend with 77 opening the innings, leading his side up to 234-7.

Thornton, who have yet to secure a win this summer, were never on course to match the total and their reply came to an end at 74 all out with Ben Fielding taking 4-32.

Goldsborough look in good shape to make a return to Division One and captain Graham Shorter was influential in Saturday’s nervous win over fellow high-flying Blubberhouses.

Shorter took five wickets to restrict Blubbs to 147-8 from 45 overs. But his side made hard work of their chase despite batting well above the required rate, and they needed the last pair of Oliver Smith and Kevin Wilks to see them over the line for a one-wicket win.

Dacre Banks picked up their first win of the season with a clinical chase to reach Harrogate 3rds’ modest total of 161.

Opening partners Jordan Marshall (63) and James Kempley (49) looked to have set Harrogate up for a big total but Dacre swung the pendulum back their way thanks to Mark Peachey’s six wickets.

Izaya Broderick hit a half century in Dacre’s reply to reach the target with seven wickets in hand.

Markington were too strong for Raskelf as Graham Bassitt produced a captain’s display.

Bassitt collected figures of 5-25 to bowl the hosts out for 124 and scored almost half the total in an unbeaten knock of 58 as his side won by nine wickets.

More than 500 runs were scored as Studley Royal 2nds beat Scotton by 22 runs.

Former first-team captain Rob Nicholson smacked 128 from the top of the order as Royal amassed 267-7, while skipper Chris Hill also added 66.

Callum Halliday (90) and Malcolm Faddy (112) gave Scotton a solid foundation in their chase but they could not amass a late flurry of runs to win the game. Nicholson took three late wickets as Scotton finished up on 245-7.

Ripley also made a successful chase to beat Newby Hall by four wickets.

Skipper Dave Henstock made a defiant century as Newby posted 193/9. Ripley had 13 balls spare as Luke Spence (66) and Ian Winwood (42) set up a winning reply.