STAMFORD Bridge raced to victory on the opening night of the Foss Evening Cricket League.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Danny Harper slammed an unbeaten 86 as Stamford stormed to an eight-wicket over Stockton & Hopgrove in only 12.1 overs.

Stockton’s 98-6 in the division one game was built around the efforts of the Kerrisons, Rich (49) and Jamie (26).

York beat Dunnington by 23 runs thanks to a superb all-round performance from Matthew Hodsdon, who took 3-12 from his four overs to add to 35 with the bat. Rich Love (20) was Hodsdon’s ally with the bat as York posted 107-5.

Adam Iyer (2-11 from four overs) and youngster Tom Loten (2-17) did their best to keep a lid on the run rate.

Hodsdon and Richard Brown (3-13) then rattled through the Dunnington line-up, despite 31 from Jack Bolam.

Woodhouse Grange enjoyed a comfortable victory against Heworth thanks to a couple of veteran performers. Wily slow left-armer Russ Bilton (3-8) and a nagging three overs for nine runs from Chris Bilton restricted Heworth to 75-3. Woodhouse knocked off the runs with three overs and eight wickets to spare thanks to Mike Burdett’s unbeaten 40.

Londesborough Park were given their game against Westow.

In division two, The Retreat picked up a 13-run victory in a high-scoring match at Bubwith that was dominated by Salman Syed.

Syed made an unbeaten 60 and Ryan Partington hit 52 as The Retreat posted 162-4. Syed then took 5-13 to reduce Bubwith’s reply to 149-9, despite 58 from Richard Readman.

Melbourne restricted Pocklington to 88-6 thanks to Natty Burge’s burst of 3-8.

Youngsters Oliver Steels (37no) and Sam Shipley (24no) led their side home with seven wickets and 20 balls to spare after Melbourne had suffered an early wobble at the hands of Chris Saltmer (2-12 from four overs).

Jonny Rawsthorne’s 47 was the cornerstone of Osbaldwick’s eight-wicket victory over Ovington. Osbaldwick restricted the Knavesmire side to 93-7 before winning with 19 balls remaining.

Yapham conceded their game to Bishopthorpe.

In division three, Aviva Vikings won the battle of the two relegated sides when they played Thixendale.

J Cockerill (38), Nigel French (27) and R Wright (26) led the visitors to a respectable 127-4.

However, opener Sandeep Bagharva hit an unbeaten 67 in his debut Foss innings and Sunny Sharma struck a 12-ball 27, with two fours and three sixes, as the Vikings chased down the Thix total for the loss of two wickets.

Heworth Colts’ star performers against Fulfordgate were 13-year-olds Ryan Whitley (16no and 2-5) and Luke Huffer (12no and 2-7) Heworth, whose captain Paul Whitley was playing against his old team-mates for the first time, made 104-5 before Fulfordgate struggled to 80-7, despite skipper Glenn Howell’s 31.

York RI inflicted a crushing 85-run victory over Askham Bryan, who were bowled out for 39, while Dunnington Academy beat Retreat II.