HOLDERS Flixton ‘A’ set up a third consecutive Andy Hire Scarborough Evening League Harburn Cup final against champions Staxton ‘A’ thanks to victory over Heslerton.

Openers Oliver Stephenson and Stuart Stocks were Flixton’s heroes in the semi-final played at Ebberston as they coasted away with a 92-run partnership to set up a seven-wicket win with two overs to spare.

The final is now a repeat of the last two years’ finals, with Staxton ‘A’ hoping it will be third time lucky. It will be at North Marine Road, Scarborough, on Friday, July 25 and it promises to be a cracker – especially after the two teams tied their league match last week.

Heslerton had won the toss in the semi-final and elected to bat but were held back by early tight bowling from brothers Michael Hunter (1-24) and Will Hunter (1-16) with the latter taking the key wicket of Australian ace Michael Dawson.

Antony Stones, Kristian Wilkinson and Sam Triffitt moved the score along, though, with Wilkinson run out late in the innings after scoring a wonderful 74. Heslerton finished on 124-4 after their 15 eight-ball overs.

In reply, Stephenson scored wonderful 54 with some great shots before being brilliantly caught and bowled by Tom Benthall (2-14).

Stocks then went on to hit 51, being out caught needing just two runs to win.

Flixton’s league clash with Staxton last week – when there were two rounds of matches – was a belter.

Rob Pinder hit 59 as Staxton made 137-7 and in reply S Cooper made 53 as Flixton finished on the exact same score.

In their other league games, Staxton beat Forge Valley, with J Robson cracking 67, while R Malthouse (57no) and Will Hunter (52) countered E Pashby’s 60 not out as Flixton beat Wykeham ‘A’.

However, Heslerton stayed top of the table with victories over Forge Valley and Cloughton ‘A’, and Ebberston remained second as they beat Wykeham and Seamer ‘A’, openers Matt Turnbull (51no) and Eddie Craggs (49no) taking them to a 10-wicket win in the former.

Sherburn stayed top of division ‘B’ with victories over Scarborough, in which Phil Pickard took 5-12 as the visitors were all out for 51, and Filey, in which Craig Sanderson crashed 89.

In division ‘C’, openers Joe Tyson and Adrian Turnbull hit unbeaten knocks of 86 and 62 to take title-chasing Ebberston ‘B’ to a 10-wicket win chasing Snainton’s 129-3 in which Michael Eyre cracked 86 not out.

Mark Vasey’s knock of 92 was decisive in Wykeham ‘B’s clear victory over club-mates Wykeham ‘C’.