Shelf Northowram Hedge Top 154-9

Oxenhope 151 all out

OXENHOPE slipped to a narrow defeat in a game they looked the most likely to win in the Spenser Wilson Halifax League Premier Division.

With the bowling attack boosted by the return of Liam Dyson, visitors Oxenhope were soon making in-roads in to the home side line-up with Joel Fothergill taking three early wickets and Dyson one.

A stand between Oliver Hemingway (42) and Babar Malik (28) gave the innings some impetuous, but Ben Howell continued his impressive start at Oxenhope with three wickets to take out the middle order and see Shelf finish on 154.

The Oxenhope reply was a similar story to the first game of the season with players getting a start but failing to capitalise. Eddie Jackson, Ben Howell, Lewis Hopkinson and Josh Tetley all got well into double figures before being dismissed.

Joe Ousey looked the most likely to win the game as he got to 39, but Razwan Saghir had other ideas as he cleared up the later order, taking 7-29 to leave Oxenhope four runs short of a first victory.

Meanwhile, the first home game of the season for Oxenhope II ended in a comfortable victory thanks mainly to the all round skills of Jonathan Holden.

Batting first, the home innings of 178-9 centred on a fine 59 from Holden supported by Hamzah Khan (26) and Rohid Ali (20).

The visitors were indebted to Kirstin Smith and Andy Bruce, who took three wickets each to restrict the score.

The visitors lost key batsmen Phil Sharples early as Holding took a couple of early dismissals.

Ronnie Goldwater occupied one end to score 40 as wickets tumbled around him, finally succumbing to the unlikely bowling of Jimmy Marshall as Rohid Ali took three wickets and Robbie Carling two for 107 all out to secure victory.