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News > General News > School End OPs’ Unbeaten Run in First Full 50-Over Contest

School End OPs’ Unbeaten Run in First Full 50-Over Contest

A landmark 50-over encounter saw the School end the OPs’ unbeaten run, with fine batting, spin bowling and plenty of promise on show.
22 Jul 2026
Written by Rachel Dare
General News

Pocklington School 1st XI 201-9, OPs 146 all out
Pocklington School won by 55 runs

Pocklington School 201 - 9 (Tom R 82, Dan RG 27, Rob Boddy 4 - 38, Matt Bradford 2 - 39)

OP's 146 all out (Josh T 5 - 53, Dan RG 5 - 57, Ollie Rook 40, Tom Binns 24)

Played under glorious blue skies, this year's fixture saw the first full 50-over contest between the School and the OPs. Electing to bat first in warm conditions, the School looked to make the most of their innings and posted a competitive 201-9 from their allotted overs.

Tom R anchored the innings superbly with 82, receiving good support from Dan RG, who contributed 27. The OPs fought back impressively with the ball, led by an outstanding spell from Rob Boddy (4-38), whose four-wicket haul tore through the School's middle order. Matthew Bradford (2-39) also chipped in with a couple of wickets to help keep the scoring in check.

In reply, the OPs embraced their trademark attacking style, making a positive start and looking to take the game to the opposition. Ollie Rook (40) provided an important stabilising influence in the middle order as wickets fell around him, while contributions throughout the innings most notably from Tom Binns (24) kept hopes of victory alive.

However, on a worn pitch offering assistance to the spinners, the School's bowling attack gradually took control. Josh T and Dan RG combined brilliantly, claiming nine wickets between them in a fine display of spin bowling. Josh finished with excellent figures of 5-53, while Dan returned 4-57 as the pair worked in tandem to restrict the OPs and ultimately bowl them out for 146.

The result gave the School a deserved 55-run victory and provided a fitting end to the senior boys' home season before their final festival at Haberdashers. While it brought an end to the OPs' unbeaten run in the fixture over recent years, there were plenty of positives to take from the contest, not least the quality and promise shown by the next generation of players coming through. It was an enjoyable and competitive match played in great spirit, with strong performances on both sides.

Thank you to all who played, and to David Byas (School) and Paul Lambert (OPs) for umpiring.

OP Team: L-R (Back Row) Ed Spink (14-23), Flynn Sangwin (16-23), Matthew Bradford (21-23), Billy Spruyt, Harry Falkingham (13-24), Ollie Rook (10-24), Olly Toomey (Former Staff), L-R (Front Row): Henry Kay (13-21), Rob Boddy (08-19), Thomas Binns (11-18), James Harrison (11-18)

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