21/05/2026
🔵 OLIVER'S MEN GO TOPS 🔵
(Old Hymerians C.C. vs. South Holderness C.C. 2nd XI [YPLN Division 3 Holderness] - Saturday, 16th May, 2026)
Old Hymerians C.C.: 128 all out (39.5 overs)
South Holderness 2nd XI: 129 for 3 (29.1 overs)
South Holderness 2nd XI win by 7 wickets
Back-to-back promotions is the target for South Holderness's 2nd XI; and, after four matches of the 2026 season, there is nothing to suggest such an aspiration is unreasonable.
After winning the toss (that's now eight of nine tosses won by the club!), Ryan Oliver sent his men into the field on Cottingham's No. 2 pitch against Old Hymerians; and, starting with the early dismissal of opener, Jaison George, South Holderness never let their hosts settle. Whilst Hymerians' skipper and other opener, the experienced Rob Lowe dug in and tried to keep the visitors' attack at bay, wickets fell at the other end and the home team were soon 46 for 4, with none of the fallen batsman having got out of single figures as Dan Blood and Danny Cross disposed of the top order.
Number 5, Anthony Merckel helped his skipper stop the bleeding briefly with a 37-run partnership; but, when Lowe was dismissed by Alex McNair for a well-made 61, Hymerians were then struggling at 83 for 5. And, when Merckel was dismissed by Phil Wright for the second second highest score of 17, the home team were in dead lumber at 106 for 7.
14 from number 7, Dougie Robertson was the last meaningful contribution to Hymerians' cause; and, with McNair and Wright wrapping things up, finishing with respective figures of 3 for 32 (10 overs) and 3 for 39 (9.5), backing up Blood's and Cross's respective hauls of 2 for 15 (10) and 2 for 36 (10), the Old Hymerians innings was ended with one ball of the 40 overs remaining.
In reply, after Matthew McIvor and Harvey Dearing were dismissed for 10 and 4 respectively, Karl Jeffs stayed with his skipper to see South Holderness to within touching distance of the winning line; but, after Oliver was run out for 45, it was Adam Gleeson (2*) who saw the team over the line at the start of the 30th over, with Jeffs backing up his century last week with an unbeaten 50* whilst, for Old Hymerians, Bilal Oryakhel and Dougie Robertson took a wicket apiece.
With both Hessle 2nd XI and Kirk Ella 2nd XI also maintaining their 100% records (whilst, in 4th place, Londesborough Park 2nd XI made it three wins from three completed matches to go with their won abandoned match), it is (a healthy) nett run rate alone that sees South Holderness 2nd XI sit atop the Division 3 Holderness table. Crucially, though, being at the top in in the middle of May is of no consequence compared to being there in the middle of September. However, South Holderness have done all they can - and convincingly - thus far, ahead of their first big showdown of the season, when they welcome Londesborough 2nd XI to the Middle Lane Cricket Ground next week.
SOUTH HOLDERNESS MAN-OF-THE-MATCH
I genuinely can't single out any of the players who made contributions with bat and/or ball this week. Karl Jeffs and Dan Blood will get the healthiest of mentions in dispatches for, respectively, 50 not out and a superbly frugal 10-over spell which yielded just 1.5 runs per over. Also getting mentions are Dan Cross, Phil Wright, Alex McNair and Ryan Oliver.
Thanks to the South Holderness kit sponsor, Nuway Audio Visual Ltd.
KPM
(Picture: Ryan Oliver is leading his men from the front on their quest for back-to-back promotions. [Picture courtesy of Colin Brammer.])
