Academy duo share double ton stand

Matthew Weston (106) and Will Luxton (103) came within 15 runs of a new league record second wicket partnership as they put on 208 for Yorkshire Academy against Sheriff Hutton Bridge at Weetwood. The pairs efforts provided most of their sides total of 278-8, Dulash Udayanga (4-50) collecting four wickets in the closing stages as the batters went in search of quick runs. Mark Fisher (63) made his third half-century of the campaign for the side from Moor Farm and Tommy Hudson scored 41 but after the pair departed the rest of the line-up struggled James Mukherjee finishing with 3-29 and Harry Sullivan 3-54. The victory keeps the county young guns in fifth place but now just eight points separate them from the league leaders. 

 

Acomb returned to the top of Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North with a 36-run victory over bottom of the table Harrogate. Matthew Dale scored 90 and Darius D’Silva made 57 in the hosts total of 222-7, the latter being bowled by Ishan Abeysekara (5-47) who added five wickets to the eight he picked up in two innings over the bank holiday weekend. Despite the Sri Lankan’s efforts, the visitors remain winless although an upset looked on the cards as they reached 127-1 thanks to a half-century from Jordan Sleightholme 55 and skipper William Bates’ 39, but once the pair had been dismissed by Darcy O’Connor (5-54) the innings fell away. Darius D’Silva (3-41) added to O’Connor’s good work and the visitors were all out for 186. 

 

Castleford relinquished top spot in the standings as they suffered a heavy defeat at North Marine Road, Scarborough’s Ben Elvidge (50) scoring a third consecutive half-century whilst sharing a partnership of 70 with 

Breidyn Schaper (81) who had already added 102 with Cian Dickinson (55) for the second wicket. James Wainman crashed 34 off 14 balls and then took the first three wickets as the visitors looked to chase the hosts 257-6. There were also three wickets for Elvidge (3-16) and by the time top scorer Connor Hyde (38) was out the result was beyond doubt and a 132-run loss ended the last remaining unbeaten record in the division. 

 

Stamford Bridge ended Woodhouse Grange’s recent run of good form which had seen them win their last four matches, a half-century from Fletcher Coutts helping the hosts build a total that remained just out of the visitors reach. The overseas all-rounder proved his worth with the bat on this occasion adding 51 with James Pick after opener Jack Timby had earlier been dismissed for 46. The hosts reached 167 before Josh Jackson (4-30) brought the innings to a premature end with back-to-back wickets. The visitors lost wickets at regular intervals in reply Dave Chaplin taking 4-29, and they eventually fell 24 runs short Jarryd Basson top scoring with 34. 

 

York were surprise winners at Common Lane beating former league leaders Dunnington by five wickets. Charlie Elliot took 4-20 and Tom Forsdike three wickets for only one run as the home side were bowled out for 85, having been 48-0 thanks to an opening stand between Alec Drury (20) and Andrew Bilton (20). Conditions for batting proved testing for both sides, the visitors having to work hard for only their second win of the campaign, and they were indebted to Tom Brooks who made 20 before being dismissed just before the winning runs were struck. 

 

Clifton Alliance recorded their first win of the season beating fellow strugglers Driffield Town by nine wickets at Alliance Cricket Ground. The visitors were bowled out for 133, Samuel Grant (4-41) taking four wickets and Thomas Brown (3-33) three, whilst the ever-dependable Sam Drury, one of only three batters to reach double-figures, top scored with 45. The hosts suffered an early setback losing opener Oliver Sherwood but an unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 123 between Andrew Simpson (56no) and Andrew Whaits (58no) secured a welcome victory which lifts their side off the foot of the table. 

 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson