Cartwright helps Kiveton to win

Harthill 172 for 8

Kiveton Park 173 for 8

Kiveton Park got back to winning ways on Saturday with a comprehensive seven wicket victory over near neighbours Harthill at Stone Close who were desperate for victory to help stave off relegation.

Kiveton won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first on what appeared to be a very good pitch.

Harthill got off to a solid start with openers Phil Higginson (20) and Dinal Fonseka (25) resisting the efforts of Kiveton’s opening bowlers, Richard Spurr (2-55) and Matt Hall (1-46).

The partnership was only broken with the score on 46 when a risky single allowed Adam Bratley to run out Fonseka with a direct hit. With this boost, Kiveton took control of the game with some accurate and tight bowling.

Harthill’s top order all made starts but needed a match-winning innings. It was not to be the case though with Kiveton’s bowlers performing much better than in previous weeks. Ian Briggs (36), Danny Anthony (21) and captain Rob Jones (30) all made starts but were unable to capitalise.

Gary Andrews produced one of his best spells of the season with 4-41 for Kiveton as Harthill posted a below par score of 172-8.

Kiveton’s openers set about their task in aggressive fashion. Openers Adam Whiteley (17) and Richard Grainger (38) put on a quick-fire 58 before the latter was dismissed by Rob Jones (2-33).

Jones then struck again in the same over to remove Whiteley to leave Kiveton on 58-2 and needing to rebuild their innings.

Matt Cartwright (62*) and Matthew Hall (32) did so with a third wicket partnership of 61 before Hall fell with the score on 119.

Kiveton had plenty of overs remaining and progressed without further alarm as Ashley Arnold (16*) joined Cartwright to steer the side to a morale boosting victory with 17 overs left.

Harthill now face an uphill task to avoid relegation with a crucial game on Saturday against fellow strugglers Retford, while Kiveton travel to Notts and Arnold as they bid for a top four finish.