SALMAN SYED was Retreat first team’s match-winner as the Foss Evening Cricket League got under way.

His all-round performance edged out Tang Hall Tigers by five runs in a thrilling last-over finish in division three.

Retreat had been restricted to 99-4 from their 18 overs by some tight bowling and fielding led by Adam Kirby (2-23). Syed finished unbeaten on 41 with support coming from Suranga Uragaha (29).

With Adam Mosley taking 4-20, the result hinged on the final over bowled by Syed with Tigers needing 14 to win with only one wicket remaining.

A six off the second ball, followed by a couple more from the third cranked up the pressure but Syed uprooted Steve Tait’s middle stump with the next delivery to finish with 2-16.

It was a different story for Retreat II, whose bowlers were hammered to all parts by Matthew Shipley (95no) and Chris Inman (50no) as Westow amassed 170-1.

Bruce Kitchener hit 37 in reply as Retreat closed on 124-9. Andrew Philips and Kieran Windlass took a couple of wickets each for the village side.

Sixteen-year-old Steven Hutchinson took an all-bowled hat-trick and his uncle, Eddie, claimed 3-7, as Bishop Wilton skittled Thixendale for only 17 on the way to a 116-run triumph.

Earlier, Wilton openers Joe Moore (57) and Josh Britland (27) put on 70 and Alex Brown chipped in with 31 to post a challenging 133-3.

More than half the players in the game between Heworth Nomads and Heworth Colts were aged 15 or under but it was two Nomad veterans who made the difference.

Opener Matt Wragg scored 44 and Greg Sykes 38 in a total of 130-6. Dan Davison picked up 3-32 for the Colts whose reply never really got going and limped to 87-5 with no-one scoring above 20.

Divisions one and two start their games tonight.