THE 2012 Pilmoor Evening Cricket League season got off to a stuttering start with play in only five of the scheduled nine matches.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge began their campaign with a comfortable win over Helperby, who batted first and made 84-3.

Danny Kiernan (21no) and Paul Scaling (20no) took Bridge to victory at 85-2 with four overs to spare.

Newburgh batted first at Thirsk and made 102-5, Rob Proudley leading the way with an unbeaten 44.

Thirsk replied with 105-5, their runs coming from Ryan McKendry (33no), Rich Kirby (21) and Keiran Fenwick (25).

In the second division, Alne batted first when they entertained relegated Easingwold and made 80-8.

Owen Smythe, with 27, and Joe Norton, with 21, were their main contributors, while Easingwold’s Harry Elliott took 2-8 in a five-over spell.

Easingwold’s reply struggled against Smythe (2-12) and John Bolton (3-26), but Jamie Metcalfe (15) and Tommy Langstaff (15no) helped them to a three-wicket win in the last over.

Huby and Raskelf played out a tie, with Huby’s batsmen posting 133-5, chiefly thanks to a knock of 51 retired by Steven Piercy.

Raskelf’s Chris Brown (42) looked to have set up a victory, despite Mark Swales’ return of 3-23 for the hosts.

They needed only four for victory off the last over, but could only manage three runs thanks to a spate of run-outs.

Acomb racked up 139-2 against Civil Service, Matt Dale making 54 retired and James Fletcher 52 retired. In reply, Civil Service closed well adrift on 68-8.