East Yorkshire Cup Final

Pickering 170 for 9

Malton and Old Malton 119 all out

Pickering won the local battle with Malton in the East Yorkshire Cup final by 51 runs on a cracking summer's day.

Pickering won the toss and elected to bat. Pickering's in-form openers were again in the runs, with Chris Nichols (36) and Mark Shepherd (56) putting on 80 before a familiar collapse ensued.

After Danny Foxton removed Nichols, Pickering lost wickets regularly, but a last-wicket stand of 30 from Ady Boyes (15 not out) and Gary Smith (19 not out) pushed them along to a good score. All Malton's bowlers did well, with two wickets apiece for Foxton, Mark Yates and John Tildsley.

Malton's reply started badly when Ben Nicholson was caught behind brilliantly by Chris Nichols in the first over off fellow Aussie Joel Crosswell. Malton never really recovered. The rest of the top order looked shell-shocked, as Pickering's bowlers ripped through them, leaving Malton reeling at 9 for 4.

Malton's only resistance came from a blend of experience and youth, as Tony Linsley (37) and Stephen Baxter (30) regained some pride at the end of the innings with a stand of 55.

Joel Crosswell was Pickering's most impressive bowler with 4 for 19, in what was his last game for the club. Gary Smith gave good support with 2 for 10.

Stuart Kemp, secretary of the former East Yorkshire Cup competition, presented the trophies.

York and District Senior League Premier Division

Pocklington 183 for 4

Pickering 187 for 7

Pickering made hard work of defeating relegated Pocklington but collected 26 points in the process. The visitors had a weakened team but opener Hinch (55) and Camwell (27) figured in a 91-run opening partnership.

Aussie Joel Crosswell, playing his final premier division match, was Pikes' most successful bowler, taking 2 for 36.

Chris Nichols was again the mainstay of the Pickering batting with an excellent 84. Together with Mark Shepherd, he put 48 on for the opening stand.

Skipper Col Frank (29) then helped Nichols to take Pikes to 115 but then there was a mini-collapse. Frank went and then Craig Aconley and Charlie Marwood followed in quick succession for nought and one respectively to leave Pikes in a tricky position. Leg spinner Newhouse did the damage with 5 for 42.

With four overs left, Pickering needed 24 runs but Joel Crosswell eased the tension with two huge successive sixes, which went clean out of the ground, as Pikes won by three wickets.

Division Two

Castleford II 170 for 8

Malton and Old Malton 173 for 5

Winning the toss, Malton chose to bowl first even though the surface looked good for batting. Castleford reached 32 for the first wicket before good work from John Tildsley resulted in a run-out.

Mark Yates and Danny Foxton slowed Castleford's run rate down. Yates was in top form, taking 4 for 65, as the batsmen struggled against his flight and turn.

There was also a wicket apiece for Foxton and John Tildsley, the latter claimin Malton's final wicket with another run-out.

Top scorers for Castleford were Peter Hursthouse (40) and Gary O'Neil (36).

Malton got off to a great start, thanks to Neil Johnson and Ben Nicholson. Both players looked in good touch, as they clocked up yet another century opening partnership. It looked as if these two would knock off Castleford's score before Johnson ran out Nicholson for 51.

Malton had a mini-collapse, the unfortunate Johnson being involved in another run-out. With the run rate edging higher, Stephen Baxter crashed ten in just five balls to put Malton safe. Tony Linsley finished off the game with the shot of the day through extra cover for four. Johnson was unbeaten at the other end on 88 not out.

Updated: 10:10 Wednesday, September 04, 2002