UNBEATEN York Vale Cricket League leaders Stockton & Hopgrove scraped into the semi-finals of the HPH Cup after a last-ball thriller against Ovington on Saturday.

With the scores tied, final pair Chris Fryer and Matt Bradshaw scrambled a single to make it through to the last four.

That had been an unlikely prospect after being 95-6 in pursuit of Ovington’s 205-6 in which Craig Nicholl top-scored with 69.

An 80-run partnership by Stu Ross (44) and Kalum Perera (44) got S&H back in the game after Matt Durkin had earlier hit 53, leaving Fryer and Bradshaw to deny Ovington.

Stockton will now face North Cave, who crushed Thorpe Willoughby by nine wickets.

The other semi-final will be between Askham Bryan and Bishopthorpe.

Craig Ferguson hit an unbeaten 59 as Askham hung on to beat Clifton Alliance by four runs.

Bishopthorpe won at Burn, where Ian Holmes (60no) and 16-year-old Andrew Seager (52no) hoisted them from 114-6 to 215-6 at tea. Holmes then recorded figures of 9.1-3-14-4 but was overshadowed by Jonathan Hrycaiczuk, who took 5-59, his first five-wicket haul in senior cricket.

Paul Johnson smashed an unbeaten 95 from 69 balls as North Duffield powered past Pocklington into the last four of the Scothern Construction Cup.

Pock made 148-3 thanks to Charlie Wilson’s 57 not out but Johnson and fellow opener Steve Miller (45) effectively settled the match with a stand of 137.

York RI’s bowlers rescued their tie against Goole after their batsmen mustered a below-par 104. However, Steve Littlewood (4-18) led a great bowling performance by seeing Goole all out for 81.

Melbourne shot out South Cave & Brantingham for just 68 on their way to a five-wicket win, Harry Collins starring with 4-22.

Malton & Old Malton, who beat Heworth by eight wickets, have been removed from the competition after fielding two ineligible players meaning Heworth will now advance to the semi-final against Melbourne.

Stillingfleet stalwart Chris Woodfine claimed 6-30 as his side edged out Ovington II by four runs in the Prendergast Memorial Trophy.

Thixendale proved too strong for Burn II, Geoff Room (64no) and Nigel French (54) leading them to a match-winning 219-4.

Copmanthorpe’s Phil Jackson (4-12) was denied a hat-trick by a difficult dropped chance in the four-wicket win against Yapham.

Kelfield’s bowlers sent down no fewer than 12 maidens as Ben Johnson’s batsmen mustered just 59-8 in a Guy Mitchell Cup match reduced to 32 overs. Matthew Walker (45) sped Kelfield into the semi-final in just 11.3 overs.

Chasing Selby’s 131-8, Fulfordgate looked out of it at 40-5 and 98-8, but Alan Baldock held them together with 57 before Max Henderson got them home with 38 not out to follow his 4-33.

The final of the President’s Cup will be between Hemingbrough II and Askham Bryan II.

Ben Lister made 55 in Hemingbrough’s semi-final win against Stockton & Hopgrove II, while Ashwin Shetty made an immediate impact in his first game of the season for Askham with 44 and 4-10 against Dunnington.


Press performance of the week

Chris Woodfine’s 6-30 proved vital as Stillingfleet edged out Ovington II in a close Prendergast Memorial Trophy tie.