Stamford Bridge beat Easingwold in battle of top two

Hull Zingari are among the early challengers for a promotion place, and they secured a comfortable 45-run victory over Folkton & Flixton with Jack Storey playing a pivotal role. He was joint top scorer with 36 alongside Jahangir Alam then Callum Hellwig scored a timely unbeaten 34 late on, however Harry Walmsley kept the innings in check with 3-35 which left the host defending 180-8. Walmsley (35) and Max Harland (48) gave the visitors a chance with a third wicket stand of 78 but Storey swept the back half of the innings away narrowly missing the competition’s season best figures taking of the season to date of 6-40. 

 

Guy Darwin suffered the dubious honour of scoring a century and finishing on the losing side as York lost to Picking by three wickets at the Recreation Ground. The opener made 106 and alongside Iain Jarvis 48 helped the visitors build a total of 246-5, Kieran Boyes the pick of the hosts bowlers with 3-48. The hosts began their reply with an opening stand of 88 between Isaac Christopher (34) and Daniel Ward (45) then David Greenlay (58no) kept the momentum going, and late on Alexander Ibbotson struck 28 off 18 balls to keep the game in the balance. Matthew Hodsdon earlier took three of the first wickets to fall (3-58) but the hosts kept their nerve and won with nine balls to spare. 

 

Stamford Bridge and Easingwold took 100% records into their match at Low Catton Road, and it was the home side who emerged with that record still intact. An unbeaten century from Martyn Woodliffe (102no) and 92 from Dominic Rhodes set up a dominant position for ‘Bridge with the duo putting on 139 for the third wicket allowing them to reach a total of 266-4. Opener Stephen Piercy responded for the visitors with 78, but it was a somewhat solo effort with no other batter passing beyond 20. Dave Chaplin went one better than last week’s five wickets taking 6-39 as the visitors were bowled out for 160, the result leaves Stamford Bridge as the stand-alone leaders at the early stage. 

 

The closest game of the day came at Welton were Carlton Towers held on to beat their hosts by just five runs. Visiting openers Henry Bayston (62) and Nathan Ellam (42) gave their side a good start but the home side fought back through Ben Wilkinson (4-61) and then Sam Bates (4-56) who each took four wickets in between which Mark Holmes made a half-century to help his side reach 249-9. Matthew Wilkinson scored 93 for the visitors and at 188-2 with James Windeatt (61) also going well victory look on the cards, but both fell to Tom Collins and in the end the side came up just short. 

 

Malton & Old Malton captain Ben Gill (103no off 111 balls) scored an unbeaten century and his unbroken partnership alongside Charlie Allott (60no) of 116 secured a five wicket win at Whitkirk as the side chased down a target of 241-7. Despite three wickets by Dean Coote (3-36) the hosts were in a strong position at the interval following a second successive half-century from Tom Webb and runs down the order from both Jack Wood (30) and Josh Watson (47no) but in the end the visitors eased home with six overs to spare. 

 

Kevin Hutchinson