Top two tussle ends in stalemate

It was a tense day at the top of the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League where none of the leading sides six were able to force a victory on a rain affected day, it leaves Sessay top with four weeks of the season to go and Beverley Town favourites to join them as the pair look to make an immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated in 2019. 

 

Beverley got the better of the draw against their title rivals Anthony Spence (64) and Gregory Whyley (61) putting on 104 for the home sides’ second wicket before Liam Carver (4-33) and Matthew Till (5-48) took control for Sessay the hosts’ last six wickets falling in the space of eight runs leaving the visitors needing to score 177. Matthew Mudd (3-29) captured three early wickets as the league leaders slumped to 28-4. Jacob Spencer rescued proceedings and would finish unbeaten on 62, he and Liam Carver (26no) unbeaten in a total of 150-6, rain meaning only 35 overs were possible in the second innings. 

 

Robert Pinder (118) and Matthew Turnbull (117no) both hit centuries at Clifton Park where Malton & Old Malton scored 339-3 against hosts York, Shaun Harland also making 62. Despite facing the biggest total made in the competition this season the home side remained defiant reaching 243-6 in response their innings which was shortened by rain to 44 overs included half-centuries from Alex Liley (55), Nick Kay (67) and Cameron Burdass (52). The visitors reward in this high scoring encounter was enough points to lift them up one place to third, York remain fifth. 

 

Folkton & Flixton came within six runs of victory at Whitkirk. The home side were restricted to 211, Connor Stephenson (3-50), Elliot Hatton (3-46) and Calum Hatton (3-56) each taking three wickets, with Sean Pickles (48) and Sam Parker (61no) both working hard to ensure a competitive total was set. Bowling their opponents out gave the visitors an extra couple of overs to try and reach the target and it looked likely that would be the case during a fifth wicket partnership of 86 between Jake Hatton (63) and Will Norman (41), but despite the former adding a further 50 alongside Max Harland victory remained just out of reach. 

 

A second five wicket haul in the competition for teenager George Baldwin (5-46) helped dismiss Welton for 164 setting up a four wicket win for Pickering. A second wicket stand of 56 between Matthew Wilkinson (65) and Ben Wilkinson (30) was the highlight of the home sides innings all four bowlers used by the visitors benefitting as wickets fell at regular intervals. The hosts looked to be in with a chance of causing an upset when three early wickets from Sam Bates (3-29) had their opponents in trouble at 66-4 but a recovery led by David Greenlay (66) and Ryan Taylor (29) got the innings back on track to set up the visitors first win away from home since the opening day of the season. 

 

In a low scoring match at Galphy Road home side Studley Royal beat Sheriff Hutton Bridge by 47 runs despite being bowled out for just 121. Opener Rob Nicholson top scored for the hosts with 48 before eventually becoming one of four wickets for Nadeem Shefta (4-34), there were also four wickets for Dan Tuite 4-17. The visitors reached 52-2 in reply, but once top scorer Jack Hugill (21) was dismissed the innings quickly fell apart eight wickets falling in the space of 22 runs. Matthew Coad finished with 3-22 and Leo Wilson took 4-20 to secure what had seemed an unlikely victory. 

 

A last wicket stand of 13 between Rohit Bokil and Simon Powdrell sealed a dramatic victory for Hull Zingari at Goole Town. Skipper Matthew Bunn made 42 for the visitors but following three wickets from Jacob Kennedy (3-58) and four from Ben Lamb (4-40) it looked as though the game had slipped away from his side as they looked to chase the hosts total of 195. The day had begun well for Goole, openers Oscar Sugden (34) and Ben Shelton (47) putting on 68, the former becoming one of four wickets for Gavin Wilkinson (4-38) and the total was given a boost by Edward Hasdell struck a brisk 34 lower down the order but as it turned out all in a losing cause. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson