Cricket: Storms gather again to affect title run-in (From Gazette & Herald)
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Cricket: Storms gather again to affect title run-in
2:24pm Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Sport
A shaft of sunlight illuminates play between Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Dunnington as rain clouds gather above on another weather-hit day
SCATTERED showers returned to decimate the Hunters York & District Senior League programme on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday.
Sheriff Hutton Bridge’s home premier division game against title hopefuls Dunnington on Saturday was wiped out by a thunderstorm that left the ground under inches of water. Annoyingly, half a mile away, roads were bone dry.
During the brief period of play, SHB reached 58-1 with Paul Oldfield unbeaten on 30 and Adam Fisher on 17. Rob Smith claimed the one wicket to fall but the bowler posing most problems was Dave Johnson, whose 11 overs had cost only six runs.
Stamford Bridge were zipping along in fine style against fellow strugglers Selby before heavy rain caused the abandonment after 26 overs.
This denied Dominic Rhodes the chance of a big century as he had reached 88 not out, while Matt Beckett had made 30 in an unbroken opening stand of 122.
Elsewhere, Clifton Alliance took advantage of the weather woes for title rivals Dunnington and Woodhouse Grange to go top with a 115-run win over Goole Town.
Studley Royal’s title chances were jeopardised on Monday when their home game against Stamford Bridge, who themselves could do with the points to climb away from drop-zone danger, was abandoned when the rain came just as the toss was being made.
One team are now definitely down – Goole Town’s relegation being confirmed when they were beaten at home by Sheriff Hutton Bridge by 49 runs in the only completed game in the top flight on Monday.
The game was reduced to 39 overs per side and saw the SHB batsmen prosper, their run-making led by Adam Fisher (65no). His brother Mark (39), skipper Paul Scaling (39) and Rob Pinder (36) also contributed, with the quartet’s combined efforts enabling Scaling to declare after 36 overs with a total of 213-5 – giving his bowlers 42 overs in which to dismiss the home team.
This proved to be more than adequate as Mike Smith claimed 6-41 and Johnny Elleanor 4-55 to topple Goole for 164 in the 37th over. Neil Foster was the pick of the home batsmen with 57.
