Pressure building ahead of season climax

Cottingham are back on top of Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Division One East following a convincing nine wicket win over bottom of the table Hornsea. Joe Routh (4-27) and Jordan Yeomans (4-9) each took four wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 91, skipper Mark Battye top scoring for his side with 28. The home side reached their target in the 26th over Danny Moss (22no) and Irfaan Mohammed (37no) sealing the victory with an unbroken second wicket stand of 74. 

 

Former leaders Bridlington were powerless to prevent themselves slipping down a place as rain ended their game 12 overs in to the Patrington innings. That in effect meant that Casey Rudd’s 85 and skipper John Major’s second half-century of the season went largely unrewarded, both batters eventually succumbing to Grant Van Es who took 3-67 in a total of 240-7. Jacob Duffill was not out on 44 when play was abandoned with the score on 77-2 both wickets falling early on to Ben Traves (2-31) 

 

David Snowball struck a career best 92 as Scarborough reached 261-9 at Hull Zingari, the total also including 34 from Edward Hopper whilst Simon Powdrell finished the pick of the bowlers with 3-59. Rohit Bokil scored 45 for the visitors who reached 143-8 in reply. Sam Carver, who top scored making 85 the last time the sides met, this time featuring with the ball taking 4-33. 

 

Beverley Town made it three victories in a row for the first time this season, five wickets from Owen Parnaby (5-50) helping set up a three wicket win at Londesborough Park. A partnership of 64 for the fourth wicket between Martin Pearson (45) and Charles Rook (44) provided the main highlight in the hosts total of 157. The visitors looked to be coasting towards maximum points thanks to opener Will Harrison (40) but then lost three quick wickets before Connor Bowden (34) got the innings back on track as they eventually reached the target with seven wickets down. 

 

Elsewhere Woodhouse Grange were convincing winners over Pocklington by 148 runs and promotion hopefuls Driffield Town were held to a draw at Sutton-on-Hull. 

 

In Division One West Easingwold remain top despite having their game against Thirsk cancelled but there was a change just below them in the table as Carlton Towers moved above Knaresborough in to second place despite being denied victory by Bolton Percy’s last wicket pair of Richard Lindsay and Andrew Clews. A positive result for the home side looked unlikely as they slumped to 54-6 batting first, Tom Atkinson (4-55) taking four wickets. Mark Holmes (42) led a recovery sharing stands of 47 and 48 with Robert Holah (32) and Joe Romaniw (27) before the side were eventually bowled out for 156. Opener Jacob Green (57) scored a half-century in reply for the visitors but struggled to find much support which left his side hanging on for a draw after Romaniw (3-30) and Holah (3-39) had each taken three wickets. 

 

Dringhouses handed Knaresborough a third consecutive defeat at Aspin Lane where the home side were bowled out for 136. Kevin Owens top scored with 47 before becoming the first of four wickets for Tom Storr who finished with figures of 4-23 from 12.3 overs. Despite two wickets each from Andy Ward (2-20) and Tom Baines (2-17) the visitors secured a comfortable win thanks to a third wicket stand of 90 between Liam Hancy (53) and teenager Harry Watkinson (48no) which all but settled the contest, their side going on to win inside 35 overs. 

 

The day’s tightest finish came at St Georges’ Road the game between Harrogate and Osbaldwick ending with the sides separated by just ten runs with the home side’s final pair at the wicket. Adam Burton (33) and Francis Kinsella (32) both passed 30 as the visitors battled their way to 193-9, all five bowlers in the ‘gate attack taking at least one wicket. Sanjay Mani (43) and Brian Fenwick (32) had to rebuild for the visitors who lost two early wickets, but both were dismissed by Anthony Butterfield (3-40) before the game headed to it’s dramatic conclusion youngster Ben Stokes (21no) and James Clark forging a vital match saving partnership. 

Heworth became the form side in the division making it three wins from three as they beat Thorp Arch & Boston Spa by 57 runs. Jonathan Draper (44) top scored for the home side who reached 187, Oliver Riley taking 4-42 including the wicket of next best batter Kalpesh Maheshwari for 29. Guy Wilkinson (3-28) took three wickets as the visitors found themselves 51-5 in reply and there was to be little let up Chris Klays (3-19) also with three wickets in a final total of 130. 

 

Five wickets from Chris Morrison (5-35) and an unbroken partnership of 113 between Stuart Clark (58no) and Sam Abel (69no) secured back-to-back wins for Sessay for the first time this season. Morrison’s wickets helped dismiss visitors Clifton Alliance for 139, although it was Ferdinand Rex (3-45) who picked up the key wicket of top scorer Oliver Sherwood, the opener making 57. The home side suffered a slight wobble losing two wickets in quick succession before Clark and Abel came together to secure a win which keeps their side in sixth their highest position of the season to date. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson