ADAM WHATLEY was the scourge of Cleethorpes with a second century in two days to steer York Cricket Club to an emphatic nine-wicket win in the first round of the Solly Sports Yorkshire League Cup.

Whatley was one of three batsmen to reach the ton mark in the high-scoring encounter at Chichester Road.

Cleethorpes skipper Harry Warwick chose to bat first and took full advantage of a pitch offering little assistance to the bowling side.

Despite the loss of fellow opener Bill Kirby, caught by Chris Booth at slip off Chris Burn in the fourth over, Warwick took full advantage of the fielding restrictions during the opening ten-over power-play. He was particularly harsh on Whatley.

In partnership with David Mansfield, the captain continued to prosper but the introduction of spin from Simon Lambert, Ryan McKendry and opposite number Tom Pringle slowed the scoring rate.

Pringle was the day’s most economical bowler on either side conceding only 30 runs from his allocation of ten overs, and it was he who ended a stand of 89 by trapping Mansfield lbw for 33.

Having just reached his half-century, Warwick began to accelerate the scoring finding plenty of gaps as York struggled to police the vast outfield. A total of 40 runs came from the second five-over power-play as the home side reached 200 with 11 overs still in hand.

Ian Mansfield brought up his 50 with a six over mid-wicket, and in the next over Warwick went to his century in more subdued fashion with a single through cover.

With the score on 230 Mansfield played across a straight delivery and was bowled by Burn (2-46) having contributed 67 to a partnership of 128. Paul Sunley managed just a couple of singles before being caught at long-on by Booth off Ryan McKendry.

The hosts’ skipper finished unbeaten on 127, having batted the full 50 overs. His stand with Ryan Harrison (17) brought 47 runs from the final five overs to set York an imposing 283 for victory.

The daunting target was put into perspective as Whatley bludgeoned 13 fours and a six in the opening ten overs, contributing 71 of the 95 runs scored, and passing 50 off only 23 deliveries.

He continued the onslaught to reach his second century in two days. But after hammering 113 from 60 balls a bid to smash another brutal blow only succeeded in picking out Warwick at deep mid-wicket off spinner Andy Severn. The total at that point was 163-1 from only 18.3 overs.

Having played conservatively, Lambert adopted a more expansive approach, the second 50 of his century coming off only 31 deliveries as he finished undefeated on 112 off 101 balls.

Liam McKendry finished on a run-a-ball 52 not out as York raced into a quarter-final date at Doncaster Town on Sunday, June 28, with almost 15 overs to spare.


Yorkshire League Cup Round 1

Appleby Frodingham 182 (M Fowler 65) beat Driffield Town 161 by 21 runs.

Sheffield United 203 (W Ahmad 81; D Wainwright 4-4) beat Castleford 193-9 by 10 runs.

Cleethorpes 282-4 (H Warwick 127no, I Mansfield 67) lost to York 284-1 (A Whatley 113, S Lambert 112no, L McKendry 52no) by 9 wickets.

Harrogate 260 (C Ryan 82, J Tattersall 57) lost to Hull 260-9 (A Scott 57no).

Doncaster Town 263 (L Townsend 98, C Allen 63; B Sanderson 5-52) beat Rotherham Town 201 (G Purshouse 72) by 62 runs.

Quarter-final draw: Appleby Frodingham v Yorkshire Academy, Hull v Barnsley, Doncaster Town v York, Sheffield Collegiate v Sheffield United. To be played on June 28.

Semi-final draw: Doncaster Town or York v Sheffield Collegiate or Sheffield United, Appleby Frodingham or Yorkshire Academy v Hull or Barnsley.