BATSMEN had a field day as the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League got underway on the hardest April pitches seen for many years.

Leading the way was Woodhouse Grange’s Jonathon Bean who hit 17 fours and five sixes in a 62-ball blitz which saw him race to 130 against premier division newcomers Hornsea.

Nick Hadfield made only 31 in an opening stand of 113 as the champions won by six wickets.

Hornsea made 197-9, with Tom Quinn taking 4-68 for the hosts.

Acomb won a high-scoring game against visitors Goole by five wickets thanks to a career-best 139 off 88 balls by Matt Dickinson.

Goole totalled 233-5 but Dickenson raced to 50 off only 27 balls. Partner Andy Tute fell for 44 after the duo had put on 157.

Jamaican leg-spinner Donovan Sinclair impressed with the bat on his debut for Stamford Bridge as he hit 87 in his side’s 269-7 against Beverley Town.

Skipper Matt Beckett got 55 and Giles Smith made 59 on his debut.

Danny Hagan then took 3-5 in two late overs to leave Beverley on 204-8.

Sessay made 187-6 when they batted first at Dunnington, with Nick Harrison top scoring on 43 and Matt Till making 32.

Collis King, batting with a shoulder injury, made a painful 48 and new recruit Adam Iyer hit 36 to help Dunningon to a draw at 164-7.

Easingwold made 267-8 at home to Clifton Alliance, with Paul Skilbeck’s 82 leading the way.

Richard Bowling (59no) and Andy Dawson (46) also prospered, despite Greg How taking 3-6.

Clifton reached a draw at 166-7 due to skipper John Myers’ 78.

In division one, Sheriff Hutton Bridge slumped from 153-2 to 184 all out against Malton & Old Malton. Ian Clish made 45, Phil Stothard was run out for 47 and Paul Scaling made 41.

New Malton skipper Danny Foxton claimed 4-43 and spinner Matt Yates took 3-27.

Paul Oldfield then took 4-46 as Malton were dismissed for 171.

Studley Royal staged a fine recovery to claim a four-wicket win at Heworth. The hosts were all out for 113 and Graham Knott reduced the visitors to 52-6, but the Ripon side won without further loss.

York were all out for 206 against Fenner, with Richard Love making 42, but the Clifton Park side were beaten by six wickets.

A second-wicket partnership of 101 between Mark Taylor (41no) and Andy Parkinson (59no) saw Clifton Alliance II romp to a nine-wicket win over Dringhouses in division two. Dringhouses were limited to 130-9 in their 45 overs. Danny Snaith hit 63, but Francis Hawthorne took 5-33 and John Thornton claimed 3-49.

Scarborough were bowled out for 91 by visitors Osbaldwick.

Andy Childe (30) and Mike Hattee (44no) then saw Osbaldwick to a nine-wicket win.

* Don’t miss The Press tomorrow for more York & District Senior League reports.