SATURDAY'S table-top clash between Staxton and Heslerton could prove crucial in the race for the Scarborough Beckett League title - especially for Staxton after they lost top spot to their rivals, Staxton’s match at Staithes was abandoned due to the rain that affected several games across Yorkshire on Saturday, with the hosts having progressed to 65 without loss.

But Heslerton's game at home to Flixton 2nds was able to be played to a conclusion, despite three breaks for rain, an early tea and being reduced to 36 overs a side, and the hosts won by a comprehensive 69 runs.

Heslerton were put into bat under a threatening sky but opening pair Alex Carrie (20) and skipper Anthony Stones made steady progress.

The latter was dismayed to see the ball trickle onto his stumps off his pads having missed a pull to leg, being out for 41 having added 53 for the third wicket with Kristian Wilkinson.

A cameo 24 from Tony Watson boosted the total, leaving Wilkinson 50 not out at the close with Heslerton having reached 152-6.

Lee Elvidge proved Flixton's most successful bowler with an excellent 5-55.

After the change round, the visitors lost two early wickets but a swashbuckling 18 from Allan Parvin moved the score along. Liam Lowery added 15 but Adam Spaven (4-33), Michael Dawson (3-27) and Andrew Slaughter (2-2) had the visitors all back in the pavilion for 83.

At Staithes, the hosts had made 65 without loss Third-placed Forge Valley stayed on the coattails of the top two by beating Ebberston by 29 runs.

Tom Brough (63) and Chris Tindall (71) contributed heavily to Valley's 192 all out, Ian Atkinson (4-34) returning the best figures.

Ed Swirescompiled 55 in reply with Jon Mason adding 24 by Dave Morris's superb 6-31, augmented by Chris Tindall's 3-31, had Ebberston all out for 163.

Whatever hopes Kirkbymoorside had of catching the leaders are now over after they lost by 38 runs at Seamer.

Brandon Tyzzer (47) top-scored in the hosts' 191-5 and he also took 3-38 in the reply as the Moorsiders were all out for 153, overseas ace Jaques Budricks adding a super 73 to his season's tally while Jordan Rivis made 32.

Cayton's match at Filey was abandoned due to rain with the hosts on 108-2.

 

Tom bags eight to leave Sewerby in bother

TOM PATEMAN starred for Brompton as they left bottom team Sewerby II in deeper relegation peril in division ‘A’ of the Scarborough Beckett League.

Pateman claimed superb figures of 8-53 to have Sewerby all out for 107, with Brompton going on to win by seven wickets, Thomas Noble (56) leading the charge to victory.

The result lifts Brompton clear of the bottom five, all of whom are in danger of the drop.

One of that quintet, Cloughton, were in an extremely healthy position when the rain came to end their match at fourth-placed Nawton Grange far too early for their sake.

Grange had lost three wickets without a run coming off the bat - their five runs having all been extras - when play came to a halt.

Another of the five, Settrington, saw their game against Wykeham abandoned without a ball bowled.

The other two, meanwhile, lost to the leading pair - Sherburn falling to Scalby by 69 runs and Wold Newton to Grindale by 52 runs.

Scalby rattled up 211-5, Paul Hesp (54) and John Barton (54no) top-scoring as Michael Holtby took 3-38, before bowling out Sherburn for 142, Phil Pickard contributing 60 as Mike Buttery took 4-22 and Hesp 3-35.

Wold Newton perhaps thought they had a chance of pulling off a shock when they bowled Grindale out for 155 as Charles Gray took 3-39, Andrew Moore 3-40 and James Knaggs 3-32.

But the visitors responded by having their hosts dismissed for 103, M Southwell (37) top-scoring as Joshua Dawson (4-3) swept things up.

 

Reason to Crowe as leaders lose

SECOND-PLACED Cayton 2nds handed runaway leaders Mulgrave their first defeat of the Scarborough Beckett League division ‘B’ campaign on Sunday - sneaking home by one wicket thanks to a boundary.

Brett Crowe took 3-31 as Mulgrave ended their overs on 200-7 and he then hit a vital 34 not out to take the visitors to victory with his last available partner at the crease.

John Crowe (39) and Simon Glave (36) had earlier made vital runs.

Cayton 2nds also won on Saturday, beating Forge Valley II by three wickets.

Steve McAleese (34) and Glave (29no) took them home after Kieran Glave (5-38) had bowled the visitors out for 117, of which Sean Pinder made 56.

Oliver Sigsworth crashed 79 off 87 balls as third-placed Thornton Dale beat Staxton II by seven wickets.

Hosts Staxton had earlier totalled 157-8 thanks to James Armstrong’s 48 off 61 balls, Kyle Outhart’s 36 and Kingsley Gray’s lifting the run-rate with 31 off 16 deliveries. But they were restricted by Guy Hunt (3-34) and Lee Oliver (3-31).

Fourth-placed Fylingdales bowled Ganton out for 65 en route to an easy win, Mark Estill (3-6), Chris Shrimpton (3-14) and Steve Husband (3-28) the destroyers.

Mulgrave’s victory on Saturday kept them well clear at the top and Ryedale at the bottom.

Chris Clarkson crashed 127 not out as Mulgrave rattled up 244-2. Carl Woodward took 5-32 as Ryedale were all back in the pavilion for 131.

Cloughton II remained cast adrift at the foot of division ‘C’ after totalling only 93 against Seamer II, Connor Myerscough claiming 5-33.

The two teams above them, Ebberston II and Heslerton II, saw their encounter ended early by rain.

At the top, second-placed Ravenscar shocked leaders Scalby II - bowling them out for just 50. Dinesh Swaminathan ripped through with 6-20.

Bowlers were also on top at Wykeham II where the hosts bagged a five-wicket win after restricting Fylingdales II to 81-7. Steve Day took 3-30 for Wykeham, and Roy Thompson 3-26 for Fylingdales.