Round-up of games played on 29 April

The weather continues to play havoc with the fixtures – of 58 scheduled Saturday games, seven were cancelled due to ground conditions and 12 abandoned due to rain. Of those that were played, there were numerous low scoring ones, as groundsmen have struggled with pitch preparation. Added to this, Play-Cricket continues to malfunction, with Live Scores particularly badly affected. These problems are not confined to YCSPL of course, and the many complaints received by ECB about the Play-Cricket issue have promoted a resulted in a national apology. 

 

 

Wakefield Thornes won for the second week running to lead the early-season table. Having elected to bat first at Field Lane, Cleethorpes reached 61-0 with Tom Keast making 41, but after the openers were out, the rest of the batting folded against Joshua Hen-Boisen and Shubham Sharma, who both took 5-25, and the Seasiders were all out for 99. Thornes lost three quick wickets in reply, and were 19-3, but Sharma (50 not out) and James Rhodes saw them home with no further loss of wicket. Last season’s champions Appleby Frodingham had a disappointing start to their campaign, when after electing to bat first at Brumby Hall, a combination of poor batting and good bowling saw them shot out for 29 by Doncaster Town, with James Dobson taking 4-10. The visitors lost a wicket to the first ball in reply, but they then strolled to a nine-wicket win inside seven overs. Tickhill’s bid to keep pace with Thornes was thwarted by the weather, as, after asking Treeton to bowl first at Washfield Lane and bowling them out for 75 (Imran Khan 7-27), the game was abandoned due to rain when they were 36-2 in reply. A similar misfortune befell Whitley Hall, who asked Hallam to bat first at Baxter Field and bowled them out for 117, with wickets being shared by six bowlers. Whitley were 25-2 chasing a revised target of 98 when the rain ended play. Aston Hall asked Barnsley Woolley Miners to bat first at Green Lane and bowled them out for 161, with 42 apiece for Sheryaar Ali and Ali Jahangir, and four wickets for Adam Clarke. The home side were 33-0 in nine overs chasing a revised target of 96 in 22 overs when rain ended play. Finally, the game between Sheffield Collegiate and Elsecar at Abbeydale was cancelled after a pitch inspection. 

 

 

The two promoted sides are the early leaders in the Championship, after both winning for the second time this season. Darfield prevailed in a tight finish for the second week running, this time beating Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds by two wickets at Shaw Lane. William Nicholson (62) held the upper order together for the home side after they decided to bat first, but Riecko Parker-Cole was amongst the wickets again and took 5-61 as Barnsley subsided from 152-5 to 172 all out. Kastun Stoute (54) and Matt Lambert (41) laid the foundation for the visitors’ victory with an opening stand of 98, but the later batsmen struggled, and Nicholson followed up his half-century with 4-29, but it was not enough. Doncaster Town 2nds won a low-scoring tussle at Town Fields after electing to bat first against Sheffield Collegiate 2nds. Lewis Bent took 4-30 as the home side were bowled out for 91, but with Joe Gallagher taking 5-20, but the visitors were bowled out for 59 in reply. Cawthorne won the battle of the two relegated sides by ten runs at Dark Lane, after being asked to bat first by Whiston Parish Church. There were three wickets each for Harsha Rajapaksha and Joe Norbury as the home side were bowled out for 109, but Methusan Thilina took 6-30 for Cawthorne as the visitors were dismissed for 99. After being put in to bat first by Conisbrough at Moor Road, Wath recovered from 26-4 to reach 138-9, despite Buddhika Sanjeewa’s 5-30. But with Jack Whitlam taking 6-15 in nine overs, the visitors were bowled out for 42 to give the home side a comfortable win. The game at Shiregreen was abandoned when visitors Sprotbrough were 16-2 in ten overs, chasing a DLS-revised total of 126 from 30. Earlier, Hammad Usman and Hamzah Younis each contributed 42 to the home side’s 162 after they had elected to bat first. Houghton Main were 65-8 after being asked to bat first against Wickersley Old Village at Northfield Road, but Haider Jahangir (33) and Matty Bowering, with 49 not out at number 10, saw them reach 153. Rain prevented the home side from starting their reply. 

 

 

Ackworth won for the third time this season to give them an eight-point lead in the embryonic league table. After electing to bat first against Sheffield United, Amitpaul Kundra (63) and Shingi Masaskadza (117 off 72 balls) helped them post a formidable 285-9. The visitors were never in the hunt in their reply, and were bowled out for 108, Dale Longfield taking 5-17. Oughtibridge War Memorial won their second game very comfortably to keep in touch with the leaders. They bowled Rotherham Town out for 67 after asking them to bat first, Hasaru Chaamikara taking 5-21, before making short work of their target to win by nine wickets in the eleventh over. There was a tight finish at Upper Haugh, where the home side bowled Wakefield Thornes 2nds out for 155, Samuel Thompson taking 4-40, whilst Jamie Howarth top-scored with 46 for the visitors. Jack Ramsey’s unbeaten 32 at number eight then saw his side to victory by one wicket. At Green Moor, newly-promoted Aston Hall 2nds were put in to bat and bowled out for 120, despite William Thom’s unbeaten 43. Chris Matthewman (50 not out) and Jamie Dixon (40) then put on 83 for the home side’s second wicket to lay the foundation for a comfortable seven-wicket win. The games between Coal Aston and Whitley Hall 2nds, and Rockingham Colliery and Wickersley Old Village 2nds, were both cancelled. 

 

 

Promoted Tickhill 2nds are the early leaders in Division 2, after a comfortable seven-wicket win over Thorpe Hesley & High Green at Alderson Drive. After being asked to bat first, the visitors were bowled out for 125, Daniel Naylor carrying his bat throughout the innings for an unbeaten 46, whilst Neil Conchie (4-28) precipitated a lower order collapse from 102-3. James Eaton’s 48 was the foundation for the home side’s win. The two other promoted sides, Elsecar 2nds and Parkhead met at the Al-Murad Stadium, where the visitors were bowled out for 76, after electing to bat first and being reduced to 43-8 by Shaun Pedler (4-27) and Elliott Evan (4-24). In reply, Elsecar were 41-6 before Jack Robinson and Jason Meadows saw them home without further loss. Penistone had a very comfortable win over Treeton 2nds after being put in to bat at Spring Vale. Skipper Connor Smythe (78 not out) was the mainstay of the home side’s 166-6 before Chris Walmsley had the remarkable figures of 5.5-5-1-7 as Treeton were bowled out for 29. Elsewhere, Warmsworth reached 108-8 in the 42nd over before rain ended proceedings in their game against Hallam 2nds at Crimicar, Noah Murphy (4-34) being the pick of the home side’s attack. The other games, between Norton Oakes and Sheffield Collegiate 3rds, and Norton Woodseats and Hatfield Town were abandoned without a ball bowled. 

 

 

Three matches survived the weather in Division 3, with early leaders Wath 2nds gaining a seven-wicket win in a low-scoring affair at Monk Bretton. After the home side were asked to bat first, Sam Whitlam took 5-17 in 10.5 overs to rip the heart out of the batting. Patrick Selkirk (54) then led his side to victory in the 24th over. Sprotbrough 2nds put Millhouses Works in to bat at Melton Road and bowled them out for 99 – Scott Mantovani leading the way with 5-19 in 13 overs. Skipper Thomas Langley (48 not out) then took his side to a six-wicket win. A five-wicket haul from Robert Mynett (5-16) helped Kexborough bowl Caribbean Sports out for just 34 at Bence Lane, but the home side lost three wickets before reaching their modest target. Two promoted sides met at Bracken Moor, where Andrew Hibbert (4-14 in 11 overs) was the pick of the Stocksbridge bowling as they dismissed Cawthorne 2nds for 125 after putting them in to bat, despite Spencer Wiles’ half-century. The home side needed just 18 more to win off 24 overs with five wickets in hand when the game was ended by rain, despite Jack Murfin’s efforts to beat the weather, with 46 off 47 balls. Oughtibridge 2nds were 41-4 off 23 overs away to Bradfield Village Fellowship when rain ended play early, whilst Frecheville Community against Worsbrough Bridge was abandoned without a ball bowled. 

 

 

Division 4 fared better than most, as results were achieved in all five scheduled games. Whiston Parish Church 2nds, seeking an immediate return to Division 3, are the early leaders, thanks to a one-wicket win at home to Rockingham Colliery 2nds. Three wickets each for Owen Struggles and James Needham restricted the visitors to 140-9 after they elected to bat first. Dale Stanley (65 off 69 balls) then led the home side’s reply, but after he was third out at 94, the later batsmen struggled, with Lucas Slatter (4-28) the pick of the visitors’ attack. After two cancelled games, Barnby Dun got their YCSPL career off to a winning start with a comprehensive win over Handsworth Junior SC at Kirk Sandall. The home side were 31-5 after being put in to bat, but Jay Horne (37) led a lower order recovery to 139-9. Ciaran McCarthy (13-4-14-4) then led the way with the ball, and Joseph Dixon picked up three wickets without conceding a run as the visitors were bowled out for 44. Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds elected to bat first against promoted Wombwell Main at Woolley, skipper Alex Gough hitting 50 at the top of the order as they posted 116. This proved more than enough; Callum Bentley taking 6-15 in 12.1 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 46. There was a comprehensive nine-wicket win for another side seeking to bounce back to Division 3, Thorncliffe & Wentworth, at home to Upper Haugh 2nds. After restricting the visitors to 136-8 in their 40 overs, Connor Brunt (93 not out off 110 balls) swept his side to victory. At Finningley, promoted Doncaster Town 3rds bowled Silkstone United out for 70, Harry Zuurbier taking 4-34, before his side passed their target with six wickets and 20 overs to spare. 

 

 

The five games completed in Division 5 were the first this season, but it was not a good day for the three promoted sides. The 2022 Division 6 champions, Sheffield United 2nds, were bowled out by Coal Aston 2nds for 88 after choosing to bat first at Bawtry Road, with four wickets each for Richard Timms and Freddie Ross. Keeper Thomas Trower then hit an unbeaten 35 as the visitors cantered home by seven wickets in the 16th over. In a 25-over game at Smithywood Road, Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds were restricted to 57-9 after deciding to bat first by Maltby Miners Welfare, for whom Jordan Beighton took 4-22, before the visitors limped home by two wickets with an over to spare, Travis Bacchus taking 4-9 in six overs in a losing cause. Penistone 2nds were put in to bat and bowled out for 93 by Darfield 2nds at School Lane, the wickets being shared by six bowlers. Thirties from Jonny Spurr and Josh Barrick saw the home side home by seven wickets in the 31st over. Conisbrough 2nds beat relegated Whiston Forge by 87 runs at Park Road, Joe Farmer top-scoring with 56 in the home side’s 187 after they were put in to bat, whilst Matthew Beevers took 4-40 for the visitors. Craig Jackson took 6-49 when Forge replied, and only Gul Safi’s 37 rescued them from more embarrassment after they slipped to 36-6. Another relegated side, Shiregreen 2nds, were well beaten by Rotherham United 2nds at Clifton Lane. Shadab Ahmed’s 5-34 helped bowl the visitors out for 95 after they had been asked to bat first, a score that Rotherham overhauled for the loss of only two wickets in 30 overs, with Omar Budoo unbeaten on 34. Finally, Hallam 3rds put Fishlake in to bat at Sandygate and had restricted then to 88-8 in 35 overs when the rain came. 

 

 

Two promoted sides, Higham 2nds and Ackworth 2nds, had a thrilling low-scoring encounter at Royd Lane. Put in to bat, the home side were bowled out for 69, with three wickets each for Aaran Taylor, Finlay Martin and Daniel Levick, whilst Steven Bamforth’s unbeaten 27 proved crucial. Thomas Swift (4-18) was then the main destroyer as the visitors were then bowled out two runs short of Higham’s score. The other promoted side, Brookhouse, were comprehensively beaten by relegated Sheffield University Staff at Rose Lane. Chris Stride took 4-5 as the home side were dismissed for 29, and the visitors knocked off the required runs in seven overs without loss of wicket. Whitley Hall 3rds narrowly missed out on promotion last time round, and got their 2023 campaign off to a winning start with a six-wicket win over Norton Oakes at Wentworth. Having been asked to bat first, Oakes were all out for 31, Richard Taylor returning figures of 9.3-7-3-4, before the home side reached their target for the loss of four wickets in the 12th over. There was a big win for another relegated side, Mexborough Athletic, who rattled up 194-3 after being asked to bat first by visitors Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds. Elliot Hunt (43) got the home side off to a brisk start before skipper Tommy Hyde took the game away from Bradfield with an unbeaten 79 in 88 balls. James Beresford then took 6-19 as the visitors were skittled for 35 and Mexborough claimed a second win to become early leaders of the division. Wickersley Old Village 3rds looked to be denied a comfortable win by the rain, when, having posted 159-7 at Oliver’s Mount, they had Handsworth Junior SC 2nds struggling at 46-6 when play was abandoned. Brady Saunders (57) and Alfie Berry (58) provided the backbone of the visitors’ innings, whilst Waqas Rashid took 4-24, before Saunders followed up his half-century with 3-20. In the final game, Caribbean Sports 2nds were bowled out for 85 after electing to bat first at home to Green Moor 2nds. Opening bowlers Jack Berry and Jake Sharp each took three wickets as the home side slumped to 33-8, before Hamzah Hussain hit 43 at number 10. Rain prevented Green Moor from replying. 

 

 

The early leaders of Division 7, promoted Hatfield Town 2nds, were put in to bat by Eden Grove Parklands at Carr Side Lane and dismissed for 105, with Umair Alam taking 4-21. But when the visitors replied, only keeper Simon Trott (31) had any real reply to the home attack, in which James Stewart took 4-14, and they were all out for 82. In a battle of two more promoted sides, Houghton Main 2nds had a comprehensive win over Stocksbridge 2nds at Middlecliffe Lane. After electing to bat first, Tahir Nawaz made 69 as Houghton reached 155, and Nawaz followed up with 4-65 in the second innings as the visitors were bowled out for 67. Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths got the better of fellow relegated side Sprotbrough 3rds at Hooton Pagnell. After asking the home side to bat first, Barnsley skipper Adrianna Darlow took 3-23 as Sprotbrough were restricted to 122-8. Craig Wilkes top-scored with 35 as the visitors cruised home by five wickets in the 33rd over. The game at Common Lane was abandoned when Warmsworth 2nds were 34-2 in reply to Frecheville Community 2nds‘ 82, Jonathan Iball taking 4-20 as the visitors struggled after electing to bat first. The game between Scholes & Harley and Mexborough Athletic 2nds was cancelled due to the unfit pitch. 

 

 

Only one result had been possible in Division 8 before Saturday, but the division fared better this time with results in all four games. Both relegated sides were beaten, Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds losing by 22 runs away to Worsbrough Bridge 2nds after asking the home side to bat first. Worsbrough were all out for 136, but then bowled their visitors out for 114, thanks to Lewis Wilkinson (4-20) and Christopher Batley (5-15). Over half the visitors’ runs came in a third-wicket stand of 76 between Sri Sirijah (41) and Tristan Alfred (33). Monk Bretton 2nds were beaten by four wickets away to Silkstone United 2nds after being put in to bat and bowled out for 128, Ollie Wainwright top-scoring for the visitors with 44. Norton Woodseats 2nds got their first YCSPL campaign off to a winning start with a 66-run win over newly-promoted Upper Haugh 3rds at Rawmarsh. The visitors lost their first eight wickets cheaply, three to run outs, before Michael Nuttall (47) and Ali Shah (54 at number 10) rescued them and took them to 169. Shah then took 5-37 as the home side fell 66 short on 103. Another promoted side, Wombwell Main 2nds, got their season off to a winning start after bowling out Doncaster Town 4ths for 68 at Hough Lane. The home side then cantered home with six wickets and ten overs to spare. 

 

 

Just one game was played in Division 9 as the game between Whiston Forge 2nds and Barnby Dun 2nds was cancelled and Dearne conceded their game away to Fishlake 2nds. The one surviving game took place at Parklands, where visitors Kexborough 2nds were bowled out for just 36 after electing to bat first (Connor Marklew 7-4-4-6) but then bowled Eden Grove Parklands 2nds out for 31 to win by five runs, with Andrew Greaves taking 4-7 in ten overs.