THREE teenagers will go head-to-head for the HPH York Vale Cricket League’s Young Player of the Year award today.

The seven-strong judging panel short-listed James Baker (Pocklington), Alex Bindloss (Bishopthorpe II) and Joe Kilvington (Clifton Alliance) for the honour.

Baker, 16, had an impressive season with the bat, scoring 439 runs from a dozen innings and averaging 48.78.

He scored three half-centuries and, on the final day of the season, the opener scored his maiden century when his 121 against Stamford Bridge helped to clinch the runners-up spot for Pocklington in division four.

Left-arm medium pace bowler Alex Bindloss was a revelation in his first season of senior cricket with Bishopthorpe II.

He became the team’s main strike bowler, finishing with 28 league and cup wickets at an average of 11.86 with an economy rate of 2.99.

His accuracy and consistency were a key factor in his side winning the Scothern Construction Cup. In all he had three four-wicket hauls and one ‘five-for’.

At 14, Kilvington is the youngest of the contenders.

In a season in which several of Clifton’s crop of juniors have performed well in the Vale League, Kilvington, who has been with the club since he was in the under-nines ranks, was the stand-out performer.

Including cup games, he took 20 wickets at an average of 23.95 and was Clifton’s leading bowler in division two.

His highlight was 7-58 against Heworth, for which he was awarded the distinction of The Press Performance of the Week.

Also in contention for the short-list were Tom Jaros (Askham Bryan), who was a runner-up in last year’s awards, Malton & Old Malton II wicketkeeper Dan Ingham and all-rounder Taylor Shann from Thorpe Arch & Boston Spa.

Carl Marsden, of award sponsors Raven Cricket, will present the three finalists with vouchers and an engraved trophy each at the league’s presentation dinner, which will be held at the Park Inn, York.