HESLERTON began the defence of the Readers Scarborough Beckett League premier division crown with a fine performance and victory over against Flixton 2nds.

Batting first, Heslerton’s openers, Anthony Stones (42) and Alex Carrie (53), set the platform for a large total, and Michael Dawson (37) continued the attack before being caught in the deep.

Chris Elvidge (4-62) steadied the run flow, leaving Heslerton all out for 233 with one ball of the 45th and final over remaining.

After the break, Geoff Hill made 60 and Jack Walmsley 29 for Flixton, but Tom Benthall, with 5-30 from his 10 overs, and Adam Spaven (3-51) ended the home team’s reply on 138 in the 44th over.

Kirkbymoorside, who also harbour title hopes, got off to a winning start against Seamer, which new overseas player Jacques Budricks making a quick impression.

Dan Jeminson (4-36) and Dave Gardner (3-10) restricted Seamer to 107-9 before Budricks hit an unbeaten 51 on his debut as the Moorsiders won by four wickets.

Cayton had a big win over Filey after skittling their visitors for just 34, Brett Crowe (6-24) and Jake McAleese (4-9) the destroyers.

Sherburn were also bowled out cheaply as J Barton ripped through the order to end with marvellous figures of 8-27. Scalby reached their target of 55 with only one man down.

Staxton got off to a winning start by default as opponents Staithes could not raise a team.

In division 'A', Jonny Pickard hit 46 not out as Nawton Grange got off to a winning start against Cloughton.

Brompton came back from an awful position to win at Sewerby 2nds.

Brompton looked lost at 16-5 but left-handed captain James Bruce and Pete Webster thereafter watched the ball carefully and started to rebuild the innings.

As the pair gained confidence, Bruce started to play more aggressive shots and, although he was out for 59 and Webster went for 16, Ross Triffitt hit a quick 43 at number 10 to see his side to a competitive 177.

In reply, the Sewerby openers didn’t look in any trouble until a mix-up brought a run-out. Calvin Roche made an aggressive 43 but he too was run out and Brompton's experienced bowlers got on top, only Shipley managing to make any more of a contribution with the bat, hitting a quick fire 21, as the hosts were bowled out for 97. Webster finished with 3-8 and Rob Lockey 4-27.

Andy Monkman had fine figures of 5-18 as Settrington had Wykeham all out for 111 to win by 47 runs.

Wold Newton won the toss and elected to field against Grindale, but the move did not pay off.

Josh Dawson made 52 as he put on 86 for Grindale's third wicket with Chris Briggs, who scored 41 on his debut after signing from Sewerby. Liam Cousins (30) and Ian Cousins (24) helped Grindale post 208-7 from their 45 overs.

Oliver West claimed 4-67 from 17 overs and Mark Holtby 2-27 from eight overs.

After tea, Oliver West top scored with 38 and Charlie Gray added 30 and Gwayne Hogg 26 but Wold Newton they were bowled out for 138 by Josh Dawson, who claimed 5-25 from 4.2 overs, and Ian Cousins, who bagged 4-31 from 13.