Top Yorkshire clubs await local teams in county cup
THERE’S set to be some top quality cricket this Sunday as Rotherham’s Premier Division clubs aim for a place in the quarter-finals of the K3 Dental Yorkshire Leagues Knock-Out Cup.
The competition, which pits the 24 Premier Division sides from the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League and its counterpart in North Yorkshire against each other, had a false start in early May as weather wiped out the first round matches.
However, last Sunday the ties were finally played and there were wins for Wickersley, Whiston Parish Church, and Tickhill as all three moved into the competition’s last 16.
And while Tickhill are yet to find out their next opponents as they wait for the winner of the Sheffield Collegiate and Clifton Alliance tie on Sunday, both Wickersley and Whiston Parish Church will be in action.
Wickersley booked their bumper tie against Yorkshire League North big guns York by beating Stamford Bridge by four wickets. It was a repeat of a memorable 2017 semi-final at Northfield Road in the same competition when Wickersley came up eight runs short as the teams shared 730 runs.
This time the home side eased home by four wickets thanks to opener Michael Jepps composed 90 not out as the hosts eased home in their chase of 229 with nine balls to spare.
Whiston will take on Woodhouse Grange, who had a bye in their first round, after seeing off Hull Zingari in emphatic fashion at Church Fields.
Set 236 to win from 40 overs Whiston saw openers James Butler (84 not out) and Bilal Afzal (79) in superb form as they cruised to victory with almost ten overs remaining and for the loss of only two wickets.
Tickhill beat Harrogate on the road by six wickets thanks to 61 from opener James Eaton and 46 not out by Charlie Kaye as they overtook their hosts 203-9 in the 34th over.
Wickersley and Whiston are both at home again in their respective ties on Sunday (June 7) with a 12.30pm start time.