Rain delay to York Cricket Club’s six-shot drive (From York Press)

Rain delay to York Cricket Club’s six-shot drive

10:19am Friday 20th April 2012 in Yorkshire League By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

THE hunt for a sextet for York Cricket Club has been stalled from its scheduled start tomorrow.

The Clifton Parkers were due to open their Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League season against Sheffield Collegiate tomorrow looking to keep a stranglehold on the trophy they have dominated for the last five years.

But the campaign’s start has been delayed by a week after the League took the decision to cancel all tomorrow’s six fixtures because of the current downpours.

Said League chairman Steve Ward: “The Yorkshire area has been suffering from particularly wet weather over the past few days.

“This has resulted in difficulties for many groundsmen and a number of grounds are literally under water.

“The weather forecast for today and for the weekend is not good.”

Ward added that the postponed six fixtures will now be played at the end of the season on Saturday, September 15.

When York finally get under way they will have a new man at the helm, with Dan Woods taking over from Marcus Wood as captain.

York have already notched a comfortable friendly win at Pudsey St Lawrence last weekend. Woods’ men made short work of their Bradford League hosts with Ryan McKendry and Tom Pringle each netting a three wicket haul.

With the bat, Liam McKendry top-scored, making 62 not out, while brother Ryan contributed with an unbeaten 27 to see the visitors home.

New recruit Steven Crossley made an impressive start to his career behind the stumps, following stalwart wicketkeeper Nigel Durham’s decision to play for the seconds this season, marking his debut with a catch and two stumpings. He then added a brisk 19 with the bat.

New vice-captain Nick Kay said of the friendly: “We’ve done this in the last two or three years.

“It stands us in good stead. The batsmen get time in the middle, the bowlers get eight or nine overs. You can net all you want but there is nothing like getting out in the middle. It was a good run-out.”

On the prospects of starting the new season, albeit a week late, Kay added: “We are as giddy as children waiting for Christmas. We can’t wait.

“There’s a bit of pressure on us to perform well again and, if you look at the balance of the team, you can argue we are as strong as we were last year.

“We should be able to drive forward.”