Bridlington and Knaresborough remain in charge

Knaresborough scored a potentially significant victory in Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Division One West winning at fellow promotion rivals Osbaldwick in convincing fashion. Skipper Greg Pickles made 32 for the visitors at the top of the order but his sides eventual total of 207 owed more to a fifth wicket partnership of 76 between Tashmial Henry (65) and Andy Ward (35), the former completing a second half-century of the season before becoming one of three wickets for Matthew Hattee (3-41). Opener Adam Burton top scored for the home side with 27, one of only two batters to reach double figures, as they were bowled out for 89 in reply Jordan Tear (3-33) and Toby Giddings (3-20) both picking up three wickets. 

 

Second-placed Easingwold’s 114-run victory over Dringhouses followed an almost identical pattern to that of the league leaders. The visitors scored 204-8, they had been 60-4, Jacob Green (3-40) with two of the first four wickets before a stand of 112 between Jack Redshaw (71) and Paul Skilbeck (44) put their side in the ascendancy. Opener Tom Owen made 34 for the home side who were bowled out for 90 the last five wickets adding just 31. There were three wickets each for Stephen Piercy (3-29) and Toby Stirke (3-10) and the results leaves the Back Lane side just three points off top spot. 

 

A sixth wicket partnership of 81 between George Hampson (61) and Ben Moss (23) formed the foundation for Harrogate’s 79-run victory over Bolton Percy, Tom Anderson finishing with 3-41 in the visitors total of 189 all out. Ben Stokes took four wickets for 28 runs in the home sides reply, Giles Anderson top scored with 31 but by the time he arrived at the crease the hosts had already lost half their wickets with less than 50 on the board and were eventually dismissed for 110, defeating dropping them into the bottom three. 

 

There were two thrilling finishes to matches the first coming between Thorp Arch & Boston Spa and bottom of the table Sessay who suffered the agony of a four-runs defeat when a first win of the season looked to be within reach. TABS recovered from 9-2 thanks to George Gibson’s (65) second half-century of the season and 33 from Oliver Riley. Richard Till and Ben Scaling finished with identical figures 4-73 as the home side set the visitors a target of 212. Matthew Wass gave them a good start with 31, and after that Sam Abell (66) and Christopher Till (46) took the score on to 174-4 with an 82-run stand. A dramatic collapse followed with six wickets falling in the space of 33 runs to leave the visitors just short, Toby Wells claimed 4-34 and just as earlier in the day two bowlers shared the same figures this time Nitikant Kasana and Oliver Walsh each taking 3-54. 

 

The last wicket pair of Jacob Newman and Alex Stone snatched a dramatic victory for Heworth at Carlton Towers which also owed a great deal to the all-round performance of Kalpesh Maheshwari, he took 3-35 as the home side were bowled out for 144, that after they been 50-1, Tom Collins doing his best to hold the innings together with an unbeaten 58. Maheshwari contributed 55 to the visitors chase but after Josh Cruise (3-30) and Robert Holah (4-25) had shared seven wickets it was left to the final two batters to secure their sides first win of the season. 

 

Thirsk also took maximum points for the first time in 2021 with a four wicket win at Clifton Alliance despite Elliott Precious (5-40) picking up a five-wicket haul for the hosts. David Taylor top scored with 31 in the home sides total of 120, James Wilkinson taking 4-25. Precious took five of the six wickets to fall including both Ben Collinson (36) and Keiran Fenwick (26) but ultimately the total was too small for the home side to defend. 

 

Beverley Town’s last wicket pair rescued a draw for their side in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Division One East top of the table clash against Bridlington at Norwood Park. The sides began the day as the leading pair and the visitors retained top spot despite missing out on maximum points, but they need half-centuries from lower order duo Richard Robinson (56) and Simon Leeson (50) to post a meaningful total following a strong start from Matthew Mudd (3-40) and James Emery (4-58). Will Harrison top scored with 40 as the home side replied to a total of 203 all out and once he was bowled by Richard Robinson (4-22) the innings collapsed four wickets falling for 23 runs before the Harry Metcalfe and Matthew Saint stood firm for the final six overs. 

 

Cottingham moved up to second following a third straight win, the latest of which came at home against bottom of the table Londesborough Park. Despite a half-century from Tom Eagling (55) the visitors were bowled out for 131, Daniel Furlong (3-26) and Jordan Yeomans (3-27) both claiming three wickets. The hosts did not have things entirely their own way as scoring required patience until Dominic Rhodes arrived to score a quick-fire half-century to put the result beyond doubt the home side winning by five wickets. 

 

Driffield Town made it back-to-back wins, a half-century from opener Kevin Woodcock (58) helping to set up a four- wicket victory at Patrington. Ben Butler (76) became the fourth batter to pass fifty this season for the hosts but three wickets from Alex Burton (3-25) and four from Jordan Caley (4-34) kept the visitors on top and meant a victory target of 184. Grant Van Es took 3-46 from his 15 overs but the visitors were able to bat around his effort to secure a comfortable victory. 

 

There were runs a plenty on offer at Hornsea where Paul Clappison (115) and Daniel Mould (100) both scored centuries. Clappison’s effort for the home side included an 84-run opening stand with Jonathan Fisher (36), the former finally becoming one of four wickets for Hull Zingari’s Muhammad Ayub (4-30). Mould already with scores of 61 and 78 this season shared sizable partnerships with both Martin Watkin (46) and Alistair Markham (43no) to bring a target of 222 within reach, and although only three wickets fell there were just nine balls of the match left when the winning runs were struck. 

 

Skipper Nick Zakrzewski (99no) batted the entire Scarborough innings against Woodhouse Grange finishing unbeaten one short of a century. Stands of 82 alongside Thomas Precious (51) and 72 with Brad Milburn (42) laid the foundation for the home sides total of 272-9, Alex Burton with 3-67. The visitors reply was given the perfect start Ted Batty (66) and Robert Draper (48) combining for an opening partnership of 95. Mike Burdett then kept the pressure on the bowlers with 39. Charlie Hopper (4-61) picked up the key wickets of both Baty and Burdett and Adam Hargreaves took three wickets as the hosts pressed hard for victory late on but were unable to dislodge the final pair. 

 

Despite dismissing all of Pocklington’s top five Rob Gainer (5-34) finished on the loosing side as Sutton-on-Hull were bowled out for 96 in reply to their hosts 235. Howard Johnson made 41 before becoming the fourth of Gainer’s haul and it needed Alex Downey batting at no8 to push the total on, his 76 proving crucial for the home side. Following his bowling exploits Gainer, the Sutton captain, went on to top score with 35 not out, but only one other batter reached double figures as the trio of Ben Shingles (3-26), Harry Collins (3-28) and Connaire Brattan (3-15) all picked up cheap wickets. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson