Ingleton put title charge on hold

Ingleton left on Sunday with a winning draw against the league leaders as Hughes hits his career best

Ambleside travelled to Yorkshire on Sunday knowing 12 or 15 points would put them along way clear of the chasing pack following a watched out Saturday fixture card in the chase for the second division title.

Hard work all Sunday morning by the Ingleton ground staff ensured the game would go ahead after the gala the previous day.

Winning the toss Graham Kellett chose to bat and give the home side the opportunity to pick up valuable points.

A positive start with 6 runs off the first 2 deliveries set the ball rolling before Barney Wileman nipped 1 back to bowl the in form Kellett with the first delivery of the 5th over. This gave the visitors a valuable lift in the field, further enhanced by the removal of fellow opener Chris Fleming with the score on 23.

The visitors thought the game was dead and buried at this point and didn't allow for John Hughes and Matthew France nuckling down and building a solid partnership from which Ingleton had a platform.

31 for 2 after 9 overs soon raced to 72 for 2 after 14 as France continued his form with the bat despatching the ball to all areas of the boundary. He took 18 off Montgomery's 1st over as Hughes supported at the other end.

France was eventually caught for 41 at Mid off to break the 3rd wicket partnership of 67.

Jack Chamberlain came to the crease and following some early scares started to work his feet and score some runs. With good composure he waited for the bad ball and then hit through it to score a valuable 39 in a 4th wicket stand of 59, Hughes riding his luck on a few occasions to remain at the crease. Hughes reached his first 50 of the season with a six over square leg before starting to play a more dominating role as he and David McGonnigal rotated the strike with a left hand/right Hand combination that didn't allow the bowlers to settle in to their line and length.

A good delivery from Wileman broke the partnership up in the 39th over bringing the ball back to remove McGonnigals off stump. A third partnership of over 50 runs.

Hughes completed his ton with a 4 behind square before opening up and with James Preston at the crease the pair added a further 71 runs in 6 overs.

Ben Mcgregor bowled an impressive and experienced last over with 2 slower deliveries followed by the wicket of Preston. Matthew Dawson left the field at the end of innings unbeaten with a strike rate of 100.00 and Hughes was unbeaten on 133 from 116 deliveries.

Ambleside set off strong in the 2nd half in pursuit of the target with Oli Wileman and Tyson pressuring and picking off the loose deliveries.

Chris Chappell made the breakthrough bowling fuller and staighter to bowl Tyson.

A change of bowling at the centre end saw Hughes pick up a wicket with his 1st ball before James Preston bowled Wileman to take away the visitors chances of a win.

A forth wicket saw Hunt out obstructing the field as he hit the returning throw away with his bat.

The visitors kept ticking along with some aggressive shots before Graham Kellett picked up 2 wickets and Hughes a 2nd wicket, leaving the league leaders 173-7 from there 45 overs

Holme are next up for Ingleton on Saturday in the league before the divisional cup semifinal against Westgate