BECKETT LEAGUE: Cayton beat the elements to take top spot

With just four weeks to go, Cayton are now 10 points clear of rivals Staxton and 18 clear of third-placed Staithes.

In a match reduced to 35 overs, Michael Dennis was the key man as the in-form batsman hit 95 as his side posted 175-7. Aussie Nick Strangio also made 50 but good bowling from Duncan Cameron, 3-34, and Ian Atkinson, 3-51, prevented the visitors running riot.

The hosts’ reply started well, but suffered a collapse as Jake McAleese ripped through the middle order to claim 5-24.

Adrian Turnbull remained unbeaten on 43 at the close as Ebberston finished on 105-8.

Staxton seemed in control at home to Forge Valley as Elliott Cooper took 3-11 leaving the visitors on 62-4 after 20.5 overs, with Mick Glew 27 not out before rain halted play.

Staithes remain in contention following a six-wicket home win over relegation battlers Scalby.

The visitors batted first and were restricted to 116-9 in 32 overs, as they found pace bowler Paul Theaker in top form as he claimed 5-36.

Paul Hesp top scored for the hosts with 24 not out.

Richard Hegarty led the reply, making 60 not out as Staithes eased home in 26 overs.

Nawton Grange travelled to Filey and were saved by the weather as Josh Dawson, 6-24, and 4-11 from Nathan Robson skittled the visitors’ normally reliable batting line-up for just 39, but the rain then intervened and no further play was possible.

Division A leaders Mulgrave made the trip to Wold Newton and came away with a 19-point win to enhance their position at the top.

The hosts were all out for 84 with Andrew Moore top scoring with a fine 30 as superb spells from Andrew Thompson, 5-31, and spinner Andrew Spenceley, 5-36, put the visitors in charge.

Mulgrave eased home with three wickets down in 23.1 overs with Mario Spagnuolo looking in good form and Thompson steering his side home.

Seamer had Sherburn on the ropes before the heavens opened.

Adam Morris’ 5-45 had the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 64-6 off 17.2 overs with Jordan Wharton remaining firm on 26 not out.

Settrington’s Stephen Beal produced a superb individual performance to move his side into mid-table security on 146 points following a 39-run win over Cayton 2nds in a game reduced to 34 overs. Beal top scored with 73 as Settrington posted 197-4.

George Rounthwaite chipped in with 43 not out and Andy Taylor also made 35.

Despite good contributions from Shane Williams, who made 33, captain Simon Glave, 27, and James Ward who hit 26, Beal’s 4-43 from 12 overs and Eddie Rounhwaite’s three wickets saw Cayton fall short on 158-9.

Wykeham’s lanky paceman Dave Pearson, 5-24, tore through Grindale’s batting line-up before the rain prevented any further play with the visitors struggling on 65-8 in just 19 overs.

Cloughton were well placed on 80-1 against Brompton, losing Ricky Nock for 25 before rain stopped play with Richard Ward on 26 not out.

Division B leaders Staxton 2nds suffered their third defeat of the season, narrowly losing to Forge Valley 2nds by just three runs.

Valley posted 160 all out with Eric Hall smashing 41 off just 11 balls, Nick Cook making 33 and Philip Pickard unbeaten on 36.

Kingsley Gray’s good season continued as he claimed his third five-wicket haul this season finishing with 5-52.

Gray also made 35 but despite good knocks from Jack Pinder, 37, and Dan Bulman, 31, Ben Storey’s 3-40 proved vital in a fine Valley win.

Ravenscar duo Will Warwick, 5-18, and skipper Jish Rewcroft, who took 4-21, skittled Fylingdales out for just 49 to secure a six-wicket win as they stay in the hunt for a promotion berth.

Bridlington 2nds’ Harry Burnhill superb spell of 5-5, including a sensational hat-trick, saw Scarborough 3rds dismissed for 49.

Steve Lount’s 27 not out ensured a 19-point win and also condemned Scarborough to life in the bottom tier next season.

Scalby 2nds raced to 98-1 in 14 overs before the rain intervened against Ganton 2nds with Alex White, 51no, and James Ledden, 37no, finding form.

Sewerby 2nds conceded their match at Thornton Dale, who remain in second.

In Division C, Flamborough gained a fine 16-run home win in an excellent game with Wykeham 2nds, keeping their promotion hopes alive.

Graeme Harvey struck 50 and Marcus Garica 43no as Flamborough posted 152-6, James Wilson taking 3-35.

Wykeham’s batsmen, including youngster Tom Poor, 20, matched by Liam Yarrow tried to respond but 3-18 from R Moyes saw them all out for 136.

Pacesetters Ebberston 2nds won at Muston by 95 runs after posting 197-5.

Second-placed Great Habton gained the full 20 points as Cloughton 2nds conceded the game.

Seamer 2nds made 156-8 in their game at Ryedale with Corey Towell, 51, and Rory Skelton, 46no, showing good form with the bat.

Neil Cowton took 3-38 for the hosts.

Sam Batty made 41 in reply, but 5-18 from Craig Baker saw Ryedale dismissed for 106.

Readers Scarborough Beckett Cricket League results for Saturday August 1 (*denotes home team)

Premier Division

Cayton 175-7 (M Dennis 95, N Strangio 50, D Cameron 3-34, I Atkinson 3-51) beat *Ebberston 105-8 (A Turnbull 43no, J McAleese 5-24) by 70 runs. Pts 18:4

Nawton Grange 39 all out (J Dawson 6-24, N Robson 4-11) drew with *Filey - Rain Stopped Play. Pts 5:10

Staithes 119-4 (R Hegarty 60no) beat *Scalby 116-9 (P Hesp 24no, P Theaker 5-36) by 6 wkts. Pts 15:3

Forge Valley 62-4 (M Glew 27no, E Cooper 3-11) drew with *Staxton - Rain Stopped Play. Pts 5:7

Division A

Settrington 197-4 (S Beal 73, G.Rounthwaite 43no, A.Taylor 35) beat *Cayton 2nds 158-9 (S Williams 33, S Glave 27, J Ward 26, S Beal 4-43, E Rounthwaite 3-52) by 39 runs. Pts 18:5

*Cloughton 80-1 (R Ward 26no, R Nock 25) drew with Brompton - Rain Stopped Play. Pts 5:5

Sherburn 64-6 (J Wharton 26no, A Morris 5-45) drew with *Seamer - Rain Stopped Play. Pts 5:8

Mulgrave 86-3 beat *Wold Newton 84 all out (A Moore 30, A Thompson 5-31, A Spenceley 5-36) by 7 wkts. Pts 19:1

Grindale 65-8 (D Pearson 5-24) drew with *Wykeham - Rain Stopped Play. Pts 5:9

Division B

*Bridlington 2nds 50-2 (S Lount 27no) beat Scarborough 3rds 49 all out (H Burnhill 5-5 inc hat-trick) by 8 wkts. Pts 19:1

*Forge Valley 2nds 160 all out (E Hall 41, P Pickard 36 no, N Cook 33, K Gray 5-52) beat Staxton 2nds 157-9 (J Pinder 37, K Gray 35, D Bulman 31, B Storey 3-40) by 3 runs. Pts 17:8

Ravenscar 50-4 beat *Fylingdales 49 all out (W Warwick 5-18, J Rewcroft 4-21) by 6 wkts. Pts 18:2

Scalby 2nds 98-1 (A White 51no, J Leddon 37no) drew with *Ganton - Rain Stopped Play. Pts 5:5

*Thornton Dale v Sewerby 2nds – Match Conceded Pts 20:-10

Division C

*Flamborough 152-6 (G Harvey 50, M Garcia 43no, J Wilson 3-35) beat Wykeham 2nds 136 all out (T Poor 20, L Yarrow 20 R Moyes 3-18) by 16 runs. Pts 18:5

*Great Habton beat Cloughton 2nds – Match conceded Pts 20:-10

Ebberston 2nds 197-5 beat *Muston 102 all out by 95 runs. Pts 19:3

Seamer 2nds 156-8 (C Towell 51, R Skelton 46no, N Cowton 3-38, K Edmond 2-15) beat *Ryedale 106 all out (S Batty 41, C Baker 5-18, L Darby 2-26) by 50 runs. Pts 18:5