Perfect start for leading trio

Pickering, Sessay and York share top billing after all three maintained their 100% records in the Premier Division of the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League. 

 

York captain Alex Collins (57no) notched up back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries guiding his side to a five-wicket victory over Beverley Town at Clifton Park. Despite Thomas Haytack (4-33) picking up four wickets for the second week in a row the home side were able to chase down the visitors 214 with a couple of overs to spare. Bevan Fawcett (50) also posted a half-century and Alex Liley made 30 as the hosts made it two wins from two. Visiting opener Ben Hatfield top scored with 54 for his side but after Tom Bates had taken 4-29 they were indebted to Benjamin Fish (30) and Jamie Roe (45) as they rebuilt the innings to a competitive total, the latter one of three wickets for Tom Spearman (3-18). 

 

Daniel Ward (91) and Jacob Stephenson (48) laid the platform for Pickering’s victory over Hull Zingari the pair sharing a second wicket stand of 87 in a total of 251, Jason Hellwig (4-48) and Fergus Wilkinson (3-20) shared seven wickets including Andrew Sharman who contributed a useful 33. For the second week in a row Nathan Johnson scored 63 but once again it came in a losing cause, Kieran Bowes finishing with 4-47 as the visitors were bowled out for 182. 

 

Sessay kept up their winning start thanks to a strong batting performance away at Folkton & Flixton. Will Norman top scored for the home side with an unbeaten 65 and James Clark made 39 in a total of 221-8, Joe Watson the pick of the bowlers with 3-60. Matthew Till (64) made a half-century and Craig Ross (44) but it was Mark Jackson with an unbeaten 70 who powered the side to victory with seven wickets and more than 10 overs to spare. 

 

Angus Fairburn laid down a marker for the season’s best bowling figures taking seven for 20, off just six overs, as Whitkirk bowled out Goole Town for 57, Tom Webb (3-15) with the other three wickets. The hosts wasted little time wrapping up the points racing to their target off just eight overs Josh Watson with 24 off 19 balls. 

 

Sheriff Hutton Bridge were the days other victors as they won on the road at Welton in a low scoring contest by 43 runs. Thomas Copp (6-35) and Harry Haines (3-37) shared nine wickets as the visitors struggled to 143 all out, opener David Coverdale the top scorer with 26. Despite two early wickets from Nadeem Shefta (3-33) the home side looked well placed at 77-3 but once James Windeatt fell for 33 the innings fell apart Daniel Cass finishing with 3-19 as the last six wickets added only 23, the final three falling with the score on 100. 

 

Malton & Old Malton’s Matthew Turnbull followed up last week’s 52 against Sessay with 84 against Studley Royal in a match dominated by the weather. Rob Nicolson scored 73 off 66 balls as despite three wickets from Adam Spaven (3-25) the visitors scored 146-7 from 26 overs. The home side fell just short of victory on 144-7 from their 22 overs, Steve Walmsley (3-42) and Matthew Coad (3-37) each picking up three wickets to dent the hosts chances of victory both sides earning a share of the points. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson