Wainwright keeps Castleford top

David Wainwright is the toast of Savile Park as he returned club best figures of 7-20 in the HUNTERS ECB YORKSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE NORTH and Castleford maintained their advantage at the top of the table with a 151-run victory over Acomb. The left-arm spinner became only the second bowler in the competition’s history to reach 150 wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 70 for the second time in three weeks. That was in reply to the home sides’ total of 221-8 which included 33 each from Chesney Hughes and Christopher Biggs alongside 80 from Brayden Clark before he became one of three wickets for James Tindall (3-22), defeat leaves one-time league leaders Acomb fourth 18 points off top spot. 

 

Yash Vagadia (52) and James Wharton (76no) shared a partnership of 85 as Yorkshire Academy completed the double over York winning at Clifton Park by four wickets. The home side were 158-4 with Duncan Snell (73) and Tom Brooks (38) going well but three wickets from Sam Wisneiwski (3-45) and four from Harry Sullivan (4-65) saw them bowled out for 205. Wharton finished unbeaten at the end and despite three wickets from Clarke Doughney 

the visitors made it six wins from their last seven with three overs to spare. 

 

Woodhouse Grange ended a three-match losing streak with victory over bottom of the table Harrogate at Sandhill Lane. The visitors looking to build on last week’s first win were bowled out for 167. After a good start through opener Ben Kembley (35) and skipper William Bates (35) the innings fell away somewhat, Christopher Suddaby taking 4-36 and James Finch with 3-37, which included the ‘Grange’s captains hundredth league wicket on his fiftieth appearance in the competition. The home side were made to work hard for the points as Ishan Abeysekara took 5-39 from 13 overs, and it needed a match-winning innings from Christopher Bilton (78no) to see them home with just seven balls to spare. 

 

Stamford Bridge snatched a last gasp victory over Sheriff Hutton Bridge William Robertson (3-35) taking the crucial wicket of Tommy Hudson (94) whose outstanding recent run of form looked set to secure his side a third consecutive win for the first time this season. With the hosts needing eight to win Robertson picked up his third wicket of the innings and one further run was added before Dave Chaplin (3-29) did likewise to close out the game. Visiting captain Benjamin Pearson had earlier shepherded his side to a score of 187-8, with a season best 51 not out, Freddie Collins the pick of the hosts’ bowlers with 3-57. 

 

It was an equally tight finish at the Clifton Alliance were the home side held on to beat Scarborough by eight runs despite a dramatic fightback from the visitors’ lower order. The home side made 217-6 thanks to 47 from opener Simon Williams, who would become one of three wickets for Harry Rinke (3-38), and an unbeaten 76 from 65 balls by Samuel Grant. In reply the visitors found themselves 99-6 when Breidyn Scapher (34) was out, but a half-century from skipper Pat Roberts (50) and 36 from number nine Jack Holt brought their side back into the contest only for their hopes to be dashed when Craig Nicoll was brought on for the first time to bowl the penultimate over and took two wickets in the space of three balls to seal a memorable win. 

 

Driffield Town put another dent in Dunnington’s title ambitions with a five wicket win at Kings Mill Road. Alec Drury (52) scored a half-century against his former side and Jack Bolam a season-best 71 but four economical wickets from Nicky Johnson (4-37) kept the score down to 231. Opener Owen Goldsworthy gave the hosts and excellent start with 91 and Nick Hardgrave was able to add 45 before both were dismissed by another former ‘Town favourite George Drury (3-60), and it was left to Randeera Ranasingha to complete back-to-back wins for the home side with an unbeaten 35 as they won with almost seven overs to spare. 

 

 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson