Selby first team got their season underway on a cold but dry day at Escrick Park on Saturday and in a low scoring game Selby sneaked home by just six runs in a tight finish.

Before the game started there was a minutes silence in memory of long standing club members Hazel Rickaby and Stephen Ward who sadly passed away during the winter. Skipper Gareth Roberts lost the vital toss and it was no surprise when Selby were asked to bat first and they suffered an early blow when Alex Bowden was bowled by Richard Bentley in the second over. Matt Hoyle and Rob Scarr both had to work hard against some tight bowling and they added 28 for the second wicket before Lee Margerison had Hoyle (18) caught by Chris Morrison. Margerison (4-19) trapped Scarr (12) leg before but Charlie Baird (18) and Lee Wild (19) added 34 for the fourth wicket. Bentley (3-38) returned to the attack to spark a middle order collapse as Selby slipped to 73-7 but Gareth Roberts and Darrel Guy staged a vital recovery with an eighth wicket partnership of 57. Spinner Ben Scaling ended the resistance when he had Roberts caught for a gritty 20 and shortly after Margerison bowled Guy for a crucial 31. Selby were eventually bowled out for 137 in the 47th over.

The Sessay reply was similar to the Selby innings with bowlers on top and batsmen having to work hard. Jamie Middleton and Gareth Roberts kept things very tight but Harry Wilkinson and Henry Stevens added 26 for the first wicket before Roberts had Stevens caught by Rob Scarr in the gully. Two runs later a mix up by the batsmen saw Wilkinson (10) run out but Stuart Clark and skipper Dave Johnson added 22 for the third wicket. Middleton made the breakthrough when he had Johnson caught in the deep by Tom Shepherd and with his next ball he had Tom Sowerby caught behind by Darrel Guy. It was another great spell from Middleton who finished with 2-19 from his 13 accurate overs. Lee Wild kept things tight at the other end when he conceded just 24 runs from his 13 overs and Tom Shepherd trapped Clark (13) leg before with the first ball of his spell. The visitors were struggling on 53-5 but Dom Atkinson and Chris Morrison dug in to frustrate the Selby attack with a sixth wicket partnership of 43. Charlie Baird joined the attack to bowl Atkinson (10) but Morrison kept Sessay in the game and Ben Scaling provided good support as they took the the total to 124. Baird had Scaling (12) superbly caught in the deep by Rob Scarr and shortly after Baird dismissed Morrison (22) and Richard Bentley with successive balls to leave the visitors on 125-9. Sessay’s last pair scrambled six runs in a tense finish but Shepherd wrapped thing up when he bowled Margerison in the 49th over to leave them all out for 131. Thanks go to match ball sponsor Marco’s Pizza and Selby travel to Barwick in Elmet on Saturday.

Yorkshire Premier League North Division Three West

Bilton in Ainsty II 210, Selby II 198-8

In Division Three Selby second team were also involved in a tight game at Bilton in Ainsty II but they went down by 12 runs in a high scoring game.

Batting first the home side made a great start with openers Tim Smith and Phillip Atkinson both scoring quickly and they looked set for a huge total with an opening partnership of 130 despite a good spell from young bowler Caspar Gray. Spinner Alex Langhan made the breakthrough when he had Smith (56) caught by Joe Bugg and James Dugher (3-63) joined the attack to have Atkinson (82) caught by Alex Hornostaj. Selby fought back well with further wickets for Alex Langhan (5-65) and Kayden Lane (2-7) as the home side’s innings faltered and only a late 22 from Graham Hutchinson lifted them to 210 all out in the last of their 40 overs.

In reply Selby needed a good start and they got it from Graham Phillips and Joe Bugg who both batted well in an opening partnership of 81. Francis Kinsella (3-18) made the breakthrough for the home side when he had Bugg caught for 43, which included 5 fours and a six. Wickets began to tumble and when Phillips was caught for 36 it left Selby on 98-4. Zac Buttle hit a brisk 16 but a couple of wickets for Charlie Raine saw the visitors reduced to 114-6 and the game seemed to be slipping away. Luke Berzins joined skipper Gareth Harvey and they staged a great recovery with Berzins in superb form and they added 67 for the seventh wicket. Noah Melling (2-46) ended the partnership when he bowled Harvey (10) and Berzins hammered 2 fours and 5 sixes in a whirlwind 59 before Melling had him caught. Kayden Lane finished unbeaten on 10 as Selby closed on 198-8 which earned them four batting points. Thanks go to match ball sponsor Linden Enviromental Consultancy Ltd and Selby are at home to Scholes I on Saturday.

In the York Vale League the third team game at Clifton Alliance IV and the fourth team game at Bolton Percy III were both washed out after the heavy rain on Sunday. On Saturday the third team play Pocklington III at Sandhill Lane in Division One and the fourth team travel to Pocklington IV on Sunday in Division Two.