Pickering dent Sessay's title hopes

Folkton & Flixton are the new leaders of the Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League Premier Division despite not being able to capture the final two wickets which would have given them victory over visiting promotion rivals Malton & Old Malton. Harry Walmsley (74) and Max Harland (72) both hit half-centuries for the home side as they scored 302-8, Will Norman finishing unbeaten on 31 whilst Luke Smith was the pick of the bowlers on either side of a high scoring meeting between two of the division’s top three. The visitors also had two batters pass fifty, Tom Bumby (58) and Shaun Harland (57) working hard to ensure their side finished on 253-8 to claim a share of the points. 

 

Michael Brown (6-31) and David Greenlay (4-16) shared all ten wickets as Sessay were bowled out for 91, Pickering ending the former league leaders unbeaten start to the season in spectacular fashion. The collapse came after the visitors had made a good start reaching 47 without loss, opener Mark Wilkie who top scored with 24 was one of only three batters to reach double figures. The home side wasted little time racing to victory inside 17 overs for the loss of just one wicket, teenage opener George Baldwin finishing not out on 44. 

 

Beverley Town stay fourth as they made it back-to-back wins at Norwood Park for the first time this season. Ben Hatfield (77) and Joe Dale (73) shared a second wicket stand of 122 against relegation threatened Goole Town and then Gregory Whyley (52no) scored an unbeaten half-century as the hosts scored 267-4. The visitors lost half their line up before the score had reached 50, things scarcely improved and not even a late rally from the lower order could not get them to half of the required target, Matthew Mudd finishing with 5-37 for his 15 overs, as the visitors were bowled out for 132, number ten Olly Tomalin top scoring with 25. 

 

The game at Clifton Park was equally one-sided York beating bottom of the table Goole Town by 110 runs. Opener Tom Spearman top scored for the hosts with 60 and Richard Love made 35 as Ben Lamb took three of the first four wickets to fall before a partnership of 86 between Alex Collins (59) and Cameron Burdass (54) put the home side in control the total eventually reaching 252-6. The visitors ten wickets were shared amongst a seven-man bowling attack, Matthew Scurry finished with the best figures of 3-24 and he took the wicket of Guy Richardson whose 29 was the highlight in his side score of 142. 

 

Michael O’Brien (3-23 & 38no) produced a match winning all-round performance for Whitkirk who beat Sheriff Hutton Bridge by three wickets. O’Brien’s wickets did not come until David Hull (33) and Matthew Maltby (25) had put on 62 for the third wickets but after he had dismissed both partners James Malthouse took up the attack and would finish with figures of 4-28. The home side did not have things all their own way in the chase Matthew Bird (3-37) with three wickets early on and two of Daniel Cass’ three coming towards the end, but O’Brien held firm to see his side over the line, a result which leaves ‘Bridge just above the relegation places. 

 

Hull Zingari are out of the bottom three for the first time this season their defeat of Welton means it is they who now drop into the relegation places. Opener Jack Storey batted the entire Zingari innings and was 108 not out from a total of 244-8, Gary Abdoll made 31, but the innings highlight from a batting points of view was a stand of 110 for the fifth wicket between Storey and Nathan Johnson (48) the latter’s dismissal the first of a hat-trick for Matthew Wilkinson (3-36). Unfortunately for Wilkinson the euphoria of his bowling exploits were short lived as he was first out just four balls in to the home sides reply, and the innings never really got going and from 27-6 they managed to reach 73 before being bowled out with Nathan Johnson (3-23) and Callum Hellwig (4-17) mainly responsible. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson