Driffield 1sts XV crush Scarborough in season opener

Driffield 1st XI’s 117 run win over Scarborough cemented their place in the history books as the first side to claim a victory in the inaugural Yorkshire Premier League North.

York & District Senior Cricket League – Yorkshire Premier League North
In what was only one of two games that survived the weather, Driffield were asked to bat first by Boro captain Ben Elvidge. The Woldsmen suffered a couple of early setbacks when debutant Casey Rudd and the previously in-form George Drury were dismissed by opening bowler Kristian Wilkinson inside the opening overs of the innings. This left Ali Asad, back for his third spell as the overseas player at Kings Mill Road, and Sam Drury together at the crease and the pair set about repairing the damage.

Drury took the game to the away bowlers and had reached a fluent 50 before he was bowled by James Pick. Pick bowled an intelligent spell at the end of the innings to finish with figures of 3-37.

Ali looked at home straight away and he continued to accumulate runs after Drury’s dismissal before he eventually returned to the pavilion in the closing overs for 88, with his side finishing on 213-7 from their allotted 36 overs.

The Duckworth/Lewis scoring system was making its debut in the league, and due to the rain delays in the Driffield innings, Scarborough required 216 for victory.

Scarborough got their innings off to a decent start, with the opening pair of Oliver Stephenson and Darren Harland making 37 for the first wicket until Harland fell to George Drury. This sparked a swift change in momentum in the game after Stephenson was caught and bowled by Alec Drury for 36, any hopes of a Boro victory quickly diminished.

The away batsmen had no answer to spin duo Alec Drury and Nick Hardgrave as they ripped through the lower-order. Hardgrave finished with fantastic first-day figures of 6-22, a haul that included a sharp caught and effort to dismiss former Driffield captain Mark Tennant. Drury backed up the efforts of Hardgrave to pick up 3-24.

This was a dream start for Driffield and the result puts them top of the league standings along with York. (Thanks to kit sponsors Drury Sports and match-ball sponsors The Mariners Arms)

Current league position: 1st
Next up: Yorkshire Academy (A), League, 12:00 noon (Saturday)

Driffield 3rd XI got their season off to a flyer with an easy ten-wicket victory over a weak South Holderness at Kings Mill Road.

York & District Senior League – Holderness Trophy Group B
Competing in the Holderness Trophy, a new competition that will begin in pre-season before coming to a conclusion when the regular season ends, the hosts elected to bowl first after winning the toss. The away side only arrived with nine men so it was no surprise when the Driffield bowlers dismissed them for just 83, with only Graham Slinger providing any resistance with 32 not out.

Carl Busfield’s side made extremely light work of overhauling Holderness’ total as John Woolley got his season off to a great start with an unbeaten 53.

Next up: Cottingham (H), Holderness Trophy, 1:00pm (Saturday)

Driffield 5th XI suffered a disappointing start to their 2016 season when they succumbed to a disappointing 5 wicket defeat at the hands of Eastrington 2nd XI.

York & District Senior Cricket League – Eastern Conference Division 3
Batting first after losing the toss, Driffield will have been more than happy when they posted a total of 214-9 from their 40 overs. Isaac Wilkes topscored for the Woldsmen with a swift 35 before lower-order batsman Harvey Thompson boosted his side’s total with 31.

Craig Chafer was the pick of the away bowling as he finished with 3-28, this just being the start of Chafer’s impact on the game.

Robbie Milner’s excellent opening spell saw Eastrington in a pickle. However, Chafer took the game by the scruff of the neck along with fellow top-order batsman Richard Collie.

The pair’s fourth wicket partnership took the game away from Driffield, with Chafer eventually being dismissed for 109 and Collie for a swashbuckling 80 to help their side record a five wicket victory with an over to spare.

Current league position: 12th
Next up: North Ferriby II (A), League, 1:30pm (Sunday).