Champions suffer opening shock

There was an upset at Savile Park on the opening day of the Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League season as defending champions Castleford were beaten by Driffield Town who themselves narrowly avoided relegation. The hosts looked to be in control as they had reached 102-1 thanks to Calum Rowe (48) and Liam Hyde (39), in reply to a target of 182-9. Nick Hardgrave took four wickets for twelve runs from ten overs and there were three wickets each for Mayank Mishra (3-20) and Alec Drury 3-44) as the home side were dismissed for 143. Earlier in the match Owen Goldsworthy (47) and George Drury (57) helped to rebuild the Driffield innings after two innings fell before the total had reached 10. 

 

Breidyn Schaper provided a match winning performance for last season’s runners-up Scarborough who scored a comfortable six wicket victory over re-promoted Beverley Town at North Marine Road. The South African took six wickets and narrowly missed out on a half-century making 49 as the home side dismissed the visitors for 177 a total which included 41 from a South African in the opposition in the shape of David Christie. The target always looked to be in reach and the result was sealed by an unbeaten half-century from Barbadian Romario Roach (52no). 

 

Woodhouse Grange’s victory at Acomb came thanks in a large part to a ninth wicket partnership worth 59 between Tom Neal and Sam Britton which helped their side reach 195-9 after they had found themselves on 128-8, James Tindall with four wickets for 18 runs. Christopher Bilton who was the league’s leading run scorer in 2021 made 47 before being sixth out as the innings suffered a collapse four wickets falling for four wickets at one stage. The hosts found batting equally difficult with only skipper Matthew Dale (25) getting beyond 20 as they were bowled out for 103 inside 37 overs, new arrival Sam Britton marked his debut with 3-26 and there were also three wickets for James Finch (3-14). 

 

Sessay marked their return to the top-flight with a narrow victory at home to Clifton Alliance. Craig Ross (55) top scored for the home side with a half-century and both Mark Wilkie (34) and Nasir Jamal (37) also provided useful contributions before the visitors fought back through Scott Hopkinson who took four wickets to limit the total to 196-9. A combination of Andrew Simpson (34) Matthew Hattie (41) and Samuel Grant (33) took the reply to within 42 of the target but the final five wickets fell cheaply Stuart Peirse (3-33) and Nasir Jamal (3-38) finishing the innings with three wickets each. 

 

The league’s leading all time run scorer Duncan Snell opened his account for the season with a century as York produced a dominant performance against Sheriff Hutton Bridge at Moor Farm, he shared an opening stand of 160 alongside Jonathan Tattersall (77) who last represented the side in 2018. A further stand of 76 between Snell and Finlay Bean (45) eventually saw the total pushed to 282-5. Despite a half-century from Adam Fisher the home side struggled throughout and Dave Brent (5-41) making his first appearance for York helped seal the victory with a five-wicket haul. 

 

The late withdrawal from the competition of Yorkshire Academy means Harrogate will begin their season next week at home to Castleford, and one team be without a game in each round of matches, next week it will be the turn of Woodhouse Grange. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson