Selby first team got their season underway in the newly formed Championship Central on Saturday but they went down to a disappointing 70 run defeat at Pocklington.

Skipper Matt Hoyle won the toss and asked the home side to bat first and they lost a wicket in the first over when Jamie Middleton had Dan Littlewood smartly caught at slip by Hoyle. Pocklington struggled to score runs against some very tight bowling from Middleton and Luke Berzins and Middleton struck again in the 11th over when he had John Chaplin caught by Joe Bugg to reduce the home side to 7-2. Cameron Mitchell gradually increased the run rate with support from Andy Anderson (10) until Middleton trapped him leg before. Lee Wild (3-74) joined the attack and took two wickets in an over to reduce Pocklington to 59-5 but Joel Taylor joined Mitchell to add 41 for the sixth wicket. New recruit Subodha Premarathne (3-41) ended the partnership when he had Mitchell caught on the mid wicket boundary by Matt Hoyle. Jamie Middleton finished with the fine figures of 3-22 from his 13 overs but Joel Taylor (26) continued the Pocklington recovery. There was some late big hitting from Alex Downey (33) and Connaire Brattan (14) as the home side were bowled out for 166 in the 43rd over.

In reply Selby made a solid start with an opening partnership of 35 between Matt Hoyle and Lee Wild but spinner Dave Chaplin made the breakthrough when he trapped Hoyle (16) leg before. Alex Downey then caught and bowled Wild (16) to leave the visitors on 43-2 in the 14th over. The innings then revolved around Aussie Corey Paull who batted stylishly from the start but wickets fell at the other end with Chaplin working his way through the Selby batting. Paull kept the visitors in the game but a devastating spell from Chaplin (7-29) saw the visitors slide to 96 all out in the 29th over with Corey Paull left unbeaten on 32. Thanks go to match ball sponsor the Malt Shovel and Selby travel to North Cave Coal Exporters on Saturday.

Yorkshire Premier League North Division Two Ebor

Selby II 183, Pocklington II 185-1

In Division Two Selby second team were also in action at Pocklington but they went down to a nine wicket defeat despite a decent batting performance.

Selby were asked to bat first after losing the toss and they lost early wickets with Freddie Forman (5-29) doing the damage. Graham Phillips (21) held the early part of the innings together but the visitors struggled to 46-5 until the big hitting Iwan White took control. There was solid support from Mike Lane (12) but White blasted a remarkable 9 sixes and 4 fours in a whirlwind 84 to put Selby on top. Skipper Darrell Guy (12) and Nathan Dye (17*) hit useful late runs as Selby were bowled out in the 42nd over for 183.

Pocklington openers Martin Stables and Ian Scott made a quick start to their reply but Selby missed a couple of chances and the home side took full advantage. Ian Scott stroked 7 fours and 5 sixes in his powerful 81 before he was bowled by Alfie Harper with the home side on the brink of victory. There was a tidy spell from Spencer Guy on his second team debut but Martin Stables finished unbeaten on 78 as Pocklington raced to victory in only the 29th over. Thanks go to match ball sponsor Wren’s Events and Selby are at home to Goole II on Saturday.

Yorkshire Premier League North Division Four Ebor

Selby III 189-9, Burn II 126

There was better news for the club in Division Four when the third team produced a good all round display to defeat local rivals Burn II by 63 runs.

Batting first after winning the toss Selby lost an early wicket but Steve Sherwood and new signing Dan Catterall added 58 for the second wicket. Toby Taperell ended the partnership when he bowled Catterall for 23. The always accurate Dan Robinson trapped Sherwood leg before for a lively 43, which included 8 boundaries, but sold knocks from James Thackray (10) and Alex Hornostaj (12) kept the scoreboard ticking over. Skipper Isaac Leung (34) gradually increased the run rate with good support from new recruit Martyn Rhodes (27) and they added 61 for the sixth wicket before they were both dismissed by Andy Stephenson (4-37). Tom Cobley picked up a couple of wickets but Alfie Laverack hit a rapid unbeaten 25 to lift the visitors to a useful 189-9 at the close.

In reply Burn lost a wicket with the score on 25 when Martyn Rhodes bowled Jonny Adamson but Leigh Adamson and Luke Trevaskiss then added 57 for the second wicket. Dan Catterall made the vital breakthrough when he had Adamson caught by Rhodes for 36 and shortly after he had Trevaskiss (30) caught behind by Gareth Harvey as Selby began to get on top. There was some resistance from Tom Cobley (17) but he became another victim for Catterall (4-36) and Martyn Rhodes also kept up the pressure with a spell of 3-42. Alex Hornostaj (3-11) efficiently mopped up the tail as Burn were bowled out for 126 in the 26th over. Thanks go to match ball sponsor Easthill Computer Services and Selby are at home to Church Fenton II on Saturday.