Zingari blow title race open, relegations confirmed

The battle for the York & District Senior Cricket League Premier Division title is wide open going into the final round of fixtures next week after long time leaders and favourites Sessay suffered a shock defeat at home to Hull Zingari, handing the advantage to Beverley Town. 

 

Callum Hellwig produced an outstanding all-round performance for Zingari as they bowled out their hosts for 66 to win by 109 runs at Oval View. Hellwig top scored with 74 and along with 38 from Gary Abdol helped the side reach 175-9 despite five wickets from Stephen Langstaff (5-40). Nathan Johnson took 3-23 in the hosts reply but it was the six wickets from the all-rounder that resulted in a surprise win for the visitors. 

 

There was a similar individual performance with bat and ball from Pickering’s Kieran Bowes who scored 62 and took 4-45, but despite his efforts Beverley Town came out on top and now head the table with one round of games to go. The hosts had just lost Jacob Stephenson (37) and were 118-7 when Bowes came to the wicket, and he was able to get them to 183 which included three wickets each for Thomas Haytack (3-44) and Jamie Roe (3-31). In response Ben Hatfield (39) and Joe Dale (52) shared a stand of 79 for the second wicket then Dale added a further 50 with Gregory Whyley (27) and despite Bowes’ exploits with the ball the new title favourites won by three wickets. 

 

Should the top two slip up next week Malton & Old Malton could well end up gaining promotion, they kept their chances alive with a comfortable win at home to Sheriff Hutton Bridge, for whom a seven-wicket defeat confirmed their relegation to Division One. Visiting skipper Jack Hugill’s dismissal for a top score of 35 sparked a remarkable collapse which saw ‘Bridge lose five wickets for just two runs hastening a total of 109 all out with three wickets each for Adam Spaven (3-25) and Michael Linsley (3-37). The hosts had no such concerns Matthew Turnbull taking them to victory inside 21 overs with an unbeaten 49. 

 

Tom Webb took seven for 47 as Whitkirk beat Studley Royal at home by 43 runs. Leo Wilson top scored for the visitors who were bowled out for 148 chasing 191, a result which means they will be relegated alongside Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Goole Town. The home sides’ total was built on a stand of 96 between Simon Webb (40) and Jack Wood (72) as they recovered from being 5-2 at the start. Teenager Joseph Young rounded of the innings with three wickets for six runs from just two overs. 

 

Folkton & Flixton retained an outside chance of finishing in the top two after they beat Goole Town despite a century from opener Oscar Sugden (105). The visiting skipper could only watch on as the side slipped to 41-5, Elliott Hatton (6-44) causing most of the early problems, before he was able to add 151 in partnership with Neil Foster (59), then another collapse saw them dismissed for 214. Will Hutchinson (55) shared an opening partnership of 116 with Tom Norman who added a further 67 with Harry Walmsley (34), the skipper eventually finishing not out one shy of a century in a seven-wicket win. 

 

Report by Kevin Hutchinson