Stamford Bridge's opening batsman Dan Hagen falls to Pickering's Dave Greenlay

Senior Cricket League

Premier Division

A solid performance saw Stamford Bridge gain much the better of a draw with Pickering after a half-century from skipper Matt Beckett (51) helped Bridge to reach the division's top score of 204-8.

Valuable support was provided by Phil Hill with 34 and Ollie Pimlott who made 33, while Tony Evans had 3-30 for the Pikes. In reply Chris Nicholls made 33 but a decisive 20-over spell by Mark Fairweather, who took 4-26, kept the Pickering batsmen in shackles and their final total was 106-8.

After the humiliation of being dismissed for a record low score on the opening day of the season, Malton & Old Malton produced an improved performance but still tasted defeat when their batsmen were unable to build on a splendid bowling performance that had seen Dunnington dismissed for 115.

The only significant innings in the whole game came from Collis King who underlined his class in making 49 as his colleagues struggled against Danny Foxton 5-25 in 12 overs, and Mark Yates who took 3-36. Malton then were blitzed by pacemen Kelvin Patterson with 5- 26 and Otral Blackford who took 3-18 in an 18-over stint. With Naumaan Ali grabbing 2-6, Malton were all out for just 66.

Division One

Batting first at Folkton & Flixton, Crayke were tested by the home side's youthful attack as Ben Elvidge claimed 4-2 and new recruit from Scarborough Beckett League side Muston, Nathan Robson, took 3-6.

Malton bowler Mike Linsley has Dunnington's Hamed Khan struggling

Valuable runs came from Paul Hutchinson with 51 and Craig Dodsworth, whose 25 helped the visitors to a third batting point as they totalled 155. In the home innings, Damon Gormley fell for 35 as one of three wickets to fall before Rob Lacey with 29no and Neil Elvidge, who was unbeaten with 50, steered Flixton home with seven wickets in hand.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Wilks hit 59 as York II became one of the few sides to reach 200 as bowlers dominated on mostly wet wickets. In fact the Clifton Park track was probably the driest in the entire league and Sheriff Hutton Bridge's bowlers generally struggled as Wilks, together with Dave Simpson 52 and Andy Kay 37, moved to 203-8. The one exception was spinner Dave Gilbertson who produced one of his best performances in taking 5-70. Bridge fielder Eddie Hull held three catches for the second successive week.

In reply, Paul Oldfield made 32 and Dave Speak 30 as Bridge edged into the comfort zone at 146-5. However, teenager Richard Love, son of former Yorkshire player Jim Love, took 5-38 and Karl Ahmed 3-25 as Bridge crumbled to defeat with five wickets falling for just two runs to give a total of 148 all out.

Division Two

Clifton Alliance's second team bowlers prevented their opponents gaining any batting points for the second successive week when, after dismissing Dringhouses for 87 on the opening day of the season, they shot out Duncombe Park for a mere 64.

Chief architect of the destruction was Francis Hawthorne whose 6-23 came off 9.2 overs whereas his partner in crime was again John Thornton who grabbed 3-39. After losing an early wicket Clifton were piloted to a comfortable nine-wicket victory which saw Simon Corley 26no and Mark Taylor 22no as the undefeated batsmen.

Division Three

Having knocked off a target of 155 for the loss of just two wickets a week ago, Stillington's batsmen displayed their other face when they capitulated to 57 all out as Londesbrough Park bowler Mark Tissiman sliced through their ranks. He had a remarkable return of five wickets for just seven runs in a 10-over spell that set up an overwhelming 10-wicket victory for Londesbrough, whose Simon Medley made 27no.

Rowntrees gained their first victory of the season when they had a 39-run triumph at Sheriff Hutton Bridge despite the absence of skipper Richard Tuite and leading all-rounder Paul Horner. Batsmen from both sides found runs hard to come by but Gerry Capelin's 34 for the visitors was the key factor.

Home skipper Dave Ellis took 3-20 and 17-year-old left-arm seamer Nick Schofield returned 3-11 as the KitKat men were bowled out for 119. Ellis then made 31 but was devoid of effective support and saw his side dismissed for 80 with Dave Whittle claiming 4-35 and teenage spinner Matt Horner earning 3-9 in 10 economical overs.

Easingwold were without last week's big scoring duo of Martin Robinson and Keith Hollinrake when they travelled to Hovingham where their depleted line-up was no match for the twin threat of cousins Stephen and George Mosey.

The home side batted first and reached 174-7 thanks to 45 from the reliable Stuart Prest and 37 from his long time ally Ali Thorp. There were three wickets apiece for Tony Raper 3-37 and Alan Robinson 3-55 but their efforts paled into insignificance when Stephen Mosey took 4-33 and cousin George Mosey an even more impressive 4-9 as Easingwold were whipped out for just 68.

At Selby, Sheriff Hutton made a first innings total of 172-7 thanks to an unbeaten 54 from Joel Wilford and 45 by Ben Tompkins. Colin Banks took 3-59 for Selby who then went on to win by three wickets as Mike Smales made 51, Gareth Roberts 31 and Steve Precious 29no. Nick Oswald had 3-34 for the losers.

Division Four

After just two games Welton & Brough are the only side to record two wins in division 4A which they lead by six points from Bubwith. Civil Service and Heworth are joint leaders in division 4B having both gained maximum points.

Two games ended in ties, in both cases when the teams batting second lost their tenth wicket with the scores level.

At Osbaldwick, the hosts were restricted to 106-8 as James Watson took 3-19 and James Spencer 3-17. Andy Horner then bowled a fine spell to take 4-15 and see Sessay all out with the scores level on 106 in the final over.

Huby batted first at Thirsk and made 163-7 with Ben Kaed hitting 60. Thirsk captain John Cook responded with 55 but Dan Grainger 4-38 and Tim Little 4-23 had Thirsk all out for 163.

The result of the game between Pickering and Malton has not been received.

Division Five

Rowntrees and Stillington are joint leaders of division 5B after each recorded their second win of the season. Stillington needed 42 overs to surpass Tadcaster Magnet's 134 all out. Robert Horner took 4-18 for the victors whose successful response was led by veteran Denis North with 38.

2:35pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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