WYKEHAM inflicted the first defeat of the season on leaders Grindale to bolster their challenge in Readers Scarborough Beckett League division ‘B’.

The afternoon went wrong from the start for Grindale, barring winning the toss.

They put their closest rivals into bat but Wykeham more than took up the challenge as Craig Bateman made 51 and James Bryant smashed 13 fours and nine sixes during his unbeaten 158 – taking the home team to tea on 279-4. Lee Cousins claimed a respectable 3-67.

Replying, Mathew Vincent (5-36) kept the scoring rate down, although Grindale hung on to remain on 121-9 at the close, Ben Jackson scoring 44.

Ryedale also sent the scoreboard spinning with Andy Hill (103) and Dan Walker (61) taking their total to 274-5 at Staxton 2nds, for whom Adrian Young claimed 3-34.

Replying, Jack Pinder (67) and Adrian Young (26) made useful runs but Jim Boyes (5-58) ended the contest on 181.

There was a fantastic match at Duncombe Park where Cayton 2nds, after arriving late, were put into bat – a decision that backfired especially in the 45th over when Simon Glave smashed the home team skipper, David Dunn, for three sixes and three fours to take the visitors to tea on 221-5.

Glave remained unbeaten on 92 with other good contributions from Jez Riley (39) and Simon Stubbs (41).

On the resumption, Barry Weldon (67), Jeremy Lascelles (34), Tom Ellis (50no) and Alec Medd (45) took the home team to the edge of victory – Cayton’s cause not being helped by numerous dropped catches.

However, an uninterrupted 23 overs from man-of-the-match Simon Glave (4-75) restricted the home team to 217-4 and sealed victory for Cayton 2nds by four runs.

Scarborough 3rds gained their second victory of the season thanks to Damian Foster (54), Brad Milburn (37), Mathew Southwell (36) and Jake Finnigan (33) posting 205-7 on their own pitch against Fylingdales before restricting the visitors to 167-8, with promising youngster Morgan Grunwell (4-40) continuing his good form of last week.

Mario Spagnolo (58) proved the visitors’ leading run-maker.