Skipper Alex Bowden again won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first and they lost an early wicket when Jamie Middleton had Sam Hill caught in the gully by Layton Hallam. Tim Whincup and George Baldwin then added 46 for the second wicket but the introduction of Lee Wild to the attack changed the game. Wild had Whincup (28) caught by Hallam and shortly after he had Baldwin (32) stumped by Corey Paull. There was another tight spell from Middleton who went on to take 3-35 from his 13 overs as Selby began to take control. There was some resistance from Pickering skipper Joe Harland (17) but after he was bowled by left arm spinner Subhoda Premarathne the innings quickly subsided with Wild finishing with the fine figures of 6-35 as the visitors were bowled out for 106 in the 30th over.

In reply the Selby batsmen had to work hard against some good bowling with Kieran Bowes soon picking up the wicket of Alex Bowden when he was bowled in the third over. Matt Hoyle and Aussie Corey Paull steadily took the total to 40 but off spinner Tim Whincup (2-31) dismissed Paull and two overs later he had Hoyle (18) caught behind. Lee Wild joined Layton Hallam at the crease and they added 20 for the fourth wicket before Hallam was run out for 18 which left the home side on 63-4 and still work to do. Kayden Lane joined Lee Wild and they both batted solidly in the gathering gloom to steer Selby home in the 32nd over with Wild finishing unbeaten on 28 and Lane unbeaten on 16. Thanks go to match ball sponsor Marco’s Pizza and Selby are at home to Clifton Alliance II on Saturday.

Yorkshire Premier League North Division Two Ebor

Selby II 208-9, Wheldrake I 209-5

Selby second team’s tough start to the season continued on Saturday when they went down to a five wicket defeat at Wheldrake despite a much improved batting performance which included a century for Harry Huddlestone.

Wheldrake won the toss and asked Selby to bat first and they made an excellent start with an opening partnership of 55 between Graham Phillips and Harry Huddlestone. Puneet Johar (3-40) made the breakthrough when he had Phillips (19) caught by Philip Thompson. Huddlestone went on to dominate the innings but he had good support from Gareth Pearce (16) and Sam Mason (10). Huddlestone fired 8 fours and a six before Umar Farooq (3-51) had him caught by Thompson for a classy 108. Mike Lane chipped in with a useful 21 as the visitors closed on 208-9 from their 45 overs.

In reply Wheldrake also made a good start with Sankara Dhakshinamurthy (15) and Jez Petty (28) putting on 48 for the first wicket before a three wicket blast from Nathan Dye (3-46) reduced the home side to 54-3. The home side recovered well with Anthony Carter and Shazaib Elahi putting Wheldrake in control with a fourth wicket partnership of 109 which was ended by Rhys Roddick when he had Carter (41) caught by Dye. Alfie Harper eventually dismissed Elahi (76) when he was caught by Mike Lane but Niklesh Dubey (22*) steered Wheldrake home in deteriorating conditions in the 41st over. Thanks go to match ball sponsor Able Heating & Plumbing and Selby travel to Sherburn on Saturday.

Yorkshire Premier League North Division Four Ebor

Drax II 198 all out, Selby III 113 all out

The third team travelled to local rivals Drax II on Saturday but they went down to an 85 run defeat.

Batting first Drax lost an early wicket when Zac Buttle had Toby Bodycombe caught by Alex Hornostaj with only 5 runs on the board but the innings then revolved around Madhu Muddiyavar who batted powerfully from the start. Luke Edwards (12) and Muddiyavar added 52 for the second wicket and there was more support for Muddiyavar from Harry Longhurst (16). Toby Settle (3-26) bowled well and he eventually had Muddiyavar caught by Buttle for 84, which included 12 fours and 2 sixes. The Selby bowlers had to work hard and they did slow down the run rate with Alex Hornostaj taking 3-48 but late runs from Jack Derham (20) lifted the home side to 198 all out in the 37th over.

The visitors made a bad start when Etan Umbo had Steve Sherwood caught behind by Harry Longhurst in the first over. There was a slight recovery from Iain Stamper (11) and Alfie Laverack (14) but they both became victims for Ethan Umbo to spark a collapse. Selby struggled to 52-6, but Zac Buttle then blasted 7 fours and a six in a whirlwind 53 before Umbo had him caught behind. The visitors then slipped to 113 all out in the 23rd over with Etan Umbo finishing with 7-23. Selby are at home to Scarcroft II on Saturday.

Sunday Vale Division One

Sheriff Hutton Bridge Vale XI 186 all out, Selby IV 151 all out

Selby fourth team got their season underway on Sunday at Sandhill Lane but they went down to a 35 run defeat to Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

The visitors batted first and they batted steadily from the start but Alfie Laverack (2-23) dismissed both openers Sam Nellist (10) and Sam Shipman (19). Joseph Ellerker (24) and David Todd (55) both batted well and they added 67 for the third wicket before Alfie Harper (2-22) had Ellerker (24) caught by Richard Mustill. Todd went on to hit 55 before he was bowled by Harper and another tidy spell from Toby Settle (4-49) slowed down the run rate as Bridge were bowled out for 186 in the 37th over.

In reply Selby lost an early wicket but the innings then revolved around Alfie Harper who had good support from Richard Mustill (10) and James Stead (24). Oscar Todd eventually had Harper caught for a stylish 54, which included 9 boundaries, which sparked a mid innings collape. Todd went on to take 4-32 as the home side were reduced 110-7. Dan Catterall (12*), Alfie Laverack (16) and Andrew Flockhart (9) provided some late resistance and they enabled Selby to pick up a couple of batting points as they were bowled out for 151 in the last of their 40 overs. Thanks go to match ball sponsor ETS UK and Selby travel to Heworth IV on Sunday.

Championship Cup

Selby I 160-3, Colton Institute 162-4

Selby first team were in action on Sunday when they travelled to Colton in the first round of the Championship Cup which is a 20 over competition

Batting first Selby scored quickly from the start with an opening partnership of 47 between Layton Hallam and Alex Bowden. Corey Paull joined Bowden at the crease as the runs continued to flow with Bowden firing 7 fours and a six before Paul Horsey had him caught by Jamie Danby for 51. Corey Paull and Tom Ellwood (18*) kept the visitors on top with Paull finishing unbeaten on 60 as Selby closed on 160-3.

The Leeds side also made a good start with opener Prabath Jayaweera smashing a quick 29 before he was bowled by Charlie Baird. Corey Paull picked a couple of wickets and skipper Alex Bowden produced a spectacular diving catch off his own bowling as Colton were reduced to 69-4 in the 11th over. The experienced Nigel Danby held the inning together and Kian England began to unleash some big hitting as the home side recovered. The Selby bowlers and fielders had to work hard but they were unable to make another breakthrough with Danby finishing unbeaten on 37 and England firing 7 fours and a six in his rapid unbeaten 56. The home side reached the victory target in the 19th over in front of a good sized crowd at Colton’s well appointed ground.