Report b Albert Pattison                 Games played on Monday, 26 May 2008

The Bank Holiday Monday provided some fabulous cricket in both the York Senior League’s Knock-Out Competitions with batsmen having a field day, underdogs producing shock results and records being broken at random.

The biggest shock result in the Hunters York Senior League Cup saw reigning league champions Clifton Alliance heavily beaten by fellow York based side Heworth who romped to a 115 run victory. Heworth’s two residential Australians showed fine form with the bat with former Bishopthorpe player Chris Moores hitting 53 and Shannon Bowen maintained his good league form to hit 46. With Jamie Ulliott 38 and Rich Winterburn 29 also making runs, Heworth were able to mount a total of 244-6 despite John Thornton’s 3-40.  Clifton’s unbeaten record was soon in peril as their first six wickets fell for only 53. A measure of respectability was then restored by number eight batsman Paul Walton whose  44 to added to the 31 made by Aussie Aaron Sayers enabled Clifton to reach 129 all out.

Having failed to make any impression in the premier division, bottom placed Malton & Old Malton pulled off a shock win when they defeated high flying Goole Town on their own midden.  Home overseas star Ashley Hulme cracked an unbeaten 112 as Goole posted 213-5 with Anthony Gibbins 27 and Lee Haywood 25 giving valuable support. Malton’s youthful skipper Mike Linsley then produced a fine knock of 70 and, with Jonathon Davies 49 and Danny Foxton 30 also playing important roles, Malton eased to a 5 wicket victory with 10 deliveries to spare.

There was a sensational game at Sheriff Hutton Bridge when the game against Stamford Bridge almost rewrote the record books. A new competition record  partnership was posted and also a new best stand for the sixth wicket, the highest individual score in the competition was raised by ten runs and three centuries were recorded in a game for probably the first time. The home side had initial success when Stamford lost two early wickets but the weakened Sheriff  Hutton attack was then despatched to all corners of the ground by Stamford skipper Matt Beckett and West Indian Tamar Lambert. Lambert raced to three figures as the pair removed the previous best third wicket stand of 182 from the record books and then upped the tempo to sail past the previous best partnership for any wicket of 232. Beckett reached his own three figure score in the penultimate over and the duo had added an unbroken 292 by the time the innings was closed at 315-2. Lambert’s unbeaten 159 had surpassed the previous best from easingwold’s Martin Robinson whose undefeated 149 against Driffield had enabled him and Paul Skilbeck to post the previous best third wicket stand. Lovers of statistics had even more cause to celebrate when the home sides creditable response added two more entries in the record books. Opener Dave Speake’s  100 was not only his maiden first team century but a provided the first instance of three centuries being recorded in the same game. He was joined in a record sixth wicket stand of 125 by 16 years old Mark Fisher who made 34 to raise the record by 32 runs and enable the home side reach 185 all out.

In another surprise result, first division side York II claimed a premier division scalp when they won by 10 runs at Easingwold. Teenager Luke Wilson hit 62 and Andy Kay added 39 in a York total of 218-7 as Richard Bowling claimed 3-40. Home skipper Martin Piercy then hit 85 whilst bowling completed a good personal day by making 51. Ex York player Stephen Piercy chipped in with 25 but Brendon Ledgeway  was another York youngster to shine as his 4 for 39 held the home side to 208-8.

Premier division Pickering avoided a potential upset when they had a narrow victory over first division side Beverley Town. Colin Frank hit a crucial 52 as he and Craig Aconley 29no, helped the Pikes to a total of 199-9. Peter Parnaby took 3 for 47 for the home side who were only able to reach 188-9 in reply with Olly Grantham 40 and Andy Burton 29 making runs

Having gained a draw at Dunnington in their league encounter on Saturday, Thirsk’s second trip to Common Road in three days proved to be less successful when they were soundly beaten by 8 wickets. Thirsk youngsters Liam Mckendry and Sean Holmes, who played significant roles in the League’s Under 21 side’s win over the Central Yorkshire League on Sunday, were Thirsk’s only batsmen to make any mark as their side could only total 129-9. Mckendry made 39 and Holmes 21 but Nauman Ali’s 4 for 28 in 8 overs put the home side firmly in the driving seast. West Indian duo Harwood Williams 40no and Collis King 69no then steadied the ship after two wickets had fallen for 28 with an unbroken partnership of 102 which earned an eight wicket victory.

Hull Zingari’s Australian player Aiden March hit 80 when his side batted first at Woodhouse Grange but had little support from his team mates. Steve Burdett bowled a parsimonious spell to take 3-19 as Hull were pegged to 177-7. Youth was then to the fore when Woodhouse batted with teenagers Andy Bilton 53 and Andy Anderson, another member of the successful White Rose side, making 49no as he and Mike Burdett 35no saw Grange home with 6 wickets in hand.