Senior Cricket League: Woodhouse Grange close on treble joy (From Gazette & Herald)

Senior Cricket League: Woodhouse Grange close on treble joy

10:17am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Sport

TREBLE-CHASING Woodhouse Grange moved back to the top of the table with an advantage draw at York II in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League premier division.

Having already lifted the Hunters Premier Cup with a six-wicket win over Studley Royal, Grange are gearing up for one the biggest weekends in their history.

Next Saturday they face a title decider against Dunnington , followed by a dash down to Lord’s for the final of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup against Reed 24 hours later.

At York, Andrew Bilton followed up his man of the match-winning 47 not out in the Premier Cup final by top-scoring with 71 not out in a total of 219-8.

Tom Forsdike took 3-62 for York, who moved to a draw at 138-7, with Matt Hodson making 35 and Charlie Elliot 48.

Dunnington set up the title decider with Grange by deposing leaders Clifton Alliance with a 66-run victory.

Collis King made 78 and Jack Bolam hit 77 as John Thornton claimed 4-74 in a total of 222-7.

In reply, Joel Hughes hit 50 but the combination of the speed of Dave Johnson (5-54) and spin of Adam Iyer (4-54) had Clifton back in the pavilion for 161.

Relegated Goole were bowled out for only 48 at home to Beverley Town, for whom Matt Mudd took 8-19.

The visitors had earlier been dismissed for 155 with Andy Hamson making 77 as Steve Hicks claimed 3-40.

Sessay missed a chance to exit the bottom two when they lost their ninth wicket to a run out off the final delivery with the scores level against Stamford Bridge.

The resulting tie left them still nine points adrift of their 11th-placed opponents.

Sessay dismissed Bridge for 121, with Matt Till taking 3-21 and Yorkshire Academy prospect Liam Carver 3-38.

Roddy Vann made 33 and Andy Healey 44.

However, when Sessay replied no batsman was able to compile a decisive score as Steve Sergeant took 4-37.

A fine team performance by Selby , who showed determination in the batting, bowling and fielding departments, enabled them to boost their survival chances with a penultimate over win at Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Star of the show was Tom Collins, who masterminded the chase of Bridge’s 219-8 with an unbeaten 68.

He was joined in a decisive stand by Lee Wild, whose 52 took their side to the threshold of victory after Eddie Rosa (35) had laid the foundation.

Bridge’s 219-8 included a seventh half-century of the season for Adam Fisher, who made 52, with further runs coming from Paul Oldfield (47) and skipper Paul Scaling (59).

Steve Precious was the pick of the Selby bowlers with 3-61.

• Don’t miss The Press tomorrow for more Hunters York & District Senior League reports.