Promotion slots still up for grabs

The title race in Division One East of the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League look set to go down to the wire after the top two fought out a draw, Bridlington (201) were unable to capture the final Cottingham (161-9) wicket which would have reduced the gap to less than then points with two games of the season to go. 

 

Third-placed Driffield Town missed the chance to close in on the promotion places Beverley Town’s Matthew Saint with a remarkable return of five wickets for six runs as the Kings Mill Road side were bundled out for 58. That was in response to the visitors total of 274-5 which included an opening stand of 137 between Robert Fish (88) and Jacob Hunter (61), and the total was boosted late on by teenager Adam Pashby who struck 36 off just 25 balls. 

 

Londesborough Park won at fellow strugglers Hull Zingari by the narrowest of margins the last wicket pair of Toby and Thomas Williamson seeing them home with just four balls to spare having put on a partnership of 27. The home side made an excellent start to the match Daniel Mould (43) and Jahangir Alam (50) scoring 76 for the opening wicket. Fergus Wilkinson (69) became the second Zingari batter to make a half-century before the innings fell away six wickets falling in the space of only 16 runs, Joe Shingles (3-45) and Martin Pearson (3-80) each with three. Chasing a target of 238 captain James Beevers (49) and Tom Jennings (66) shared a second wicket stand worth 61 before Pearson (52) joined Jennings to add 103 for the third. Mohammad Ayub (5-59) looked to have turned the match in the home sides favour most of his wickets coming in a spell which saw the score go from 202-4 to 211-9 setting the stage for a dramatic finale. 

 

A youthful Woodhouse Grange side proved too strong for Hornsea as the Sandhill Lane side made it four wins from their last five with victory in a one-sided contest. Teenagers Archie Wilcock (3-24) and Harry Jackson (3-25) both picked up three wickets alongside George Baty (3-14) as the visitors were bowled out for 94, captain Mark Battye making 28. The hosts raced to their target from 15 overs Declan Eastwood (45no) and Tom Stubley (34no) with a match-winning partnership of 70. 

 

A dramatic fightback from Pocklington saw them snatch an unlikely victory over Scarborough as the hosts recovered from 86-6 to chase down a target of 214 with an over to spare. The day began brightly for the visitors Brad Milburn (35) and skipper Nick Zakrzewski (58) with runs at the top of the order and Sam Carver made 42 before Billy Higgins evened the game up taking 5-36 as the momentum swung the total going from 159-2 to 213 all out. Opener James Fletcher scored 43 for the hosts but three wickets each from Charlie Hopper (4-69) and Jonathan Crick (3-17) looked to have put their side firmly in command but a seventh wicket stand of 61 between Charles Lambert (41) and Harry Collins (52no) gave their side hope and Collins was able to see the game out putting on an unbroken 67 with Phil Smith. 

 

HUNTERS Y&DSCL DIVISION ONE WEST 

 

With two promotion places now guaranteed the season is building to a dramatic climax in Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League Division One West. Easingwold remain firm favourites to claim one of the slots despite failing to beat Clifton Alliance who are facing a different challenge at the other end of the table. The league leaders were grateful for runs from their lower order, Jack Redshaw (41) and Sean Dixon (37no) making key contributions in a total of 230-9, Joe Kilvington’s (3-46) three wickets including Redshaw. Paul Skilbeck (3-28) and Stephen Piercy (3-45) helped reduce the visitors to 96-7 but a counterattack from Jamie Butt (63no) and Elliott Precious (26) meant only one further wicket was lost as their side closed on 179-8 securing a valuable share of the points. 

 

Carlton Towers powered their way to a total of 280-7 at Sessay, Tom Collins (54) hitting a quick-fire half-century at the top of the order and Mark Holmes scoring 87 off 88 balls in between which skipper Robert Holah made 40 before Joe Romaniw rounded the innings off with an unbeaten 30, Luke Burnett finishing with 3-53 for the hosts. Holah (5-20) and Romaniw (3-25) then did most of the damage with the ball sharing eight wickets as the home side were bowled out for 121. 

 

Knaresborough wasted no time beating Bolton Percy in a match which lasted less than 58 overs. Andy Ward (4-43) took four wickets and Tashmial Henry (3-8) three as the visitors were bowled out for 99. Ward (28) went on to open the innings sharing a stand of 64 with captain Greg Pickles (26) the hosts racing to a victory which keeps them in the promotion picture with a key game against Carlton Towers to come next Saturday. 

 

Harrogate make up the quartet with realistic prospects of promotion, but they needed a match-winning innings from Isaac Light (44) to keep them in the picture after they looked to be heading for defeat at home to Heworth. The visitors scored 164 thanks mainly to the efforts of Jack Wilkinson (34) and Guy Wilkinson (46) as Charlie Stokes (4-64) and Ben Moss (3-27) strived to give their side the advantage. Three wickets early in the hosts reply from Graham Knott (3-21) had them in trouble and from 69-5 it was largely down to Light that they came away with victory. 

Despite an outstanding effort from their captain Matthew Hattee Osbaldwick had to settle for a draw against Dringhouses. The skipper lead the way making 84 from his sides total of 241-9 which also included a half-century from Francis Kinsella (51), Tom Storr (2-48) finished with the best figures in a six-man bowling attack all of whom took wickets. The hosts’ openers Tom Owen (31) and Liam Hancy (57) put on 99 after which the side struggled with Matthew Hattee taking 3-63 and James Hattee 3-41. The result was decided in the end by a stand of 48 between Chris Storey (32) and Robert Thrall (21no) who held the visiting bowlers at bay. 

 

Two excellent partnerships both involving Mark Cook (68no) helped Thirsk record a third consecutive victory the latest success coming by eight wickets at home to Thorp Arch & Boston Spa. The opener put on 81 with James Trueman (37) and the decisive unbroken stand of 63 alongside Ben Collinson (42no). James Wilkinson with 3-41 had been the pick of the bowlers during the visitors’ innings the highlight of which were the efforts of George Gibson and Oliver Riley both batters making 43 in their sides total of 172-7 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson