THE Hunters York and District Senior League failed in their quest to retain the Dickens and Paish Trophy when they were beaten by the East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance who had a 13-run advantage at Malton & Old Malton.

That was tough on York wicketkeeper and captain Dave Sykes who made four stumpings and held one catch.

York were weakened by the non-appearance of Hamid Khan, who hit a century in the previous round, because of injury.

In his absence, Malton & Old Malton second team skipper Steve Oldfield stepped into the breach.

East Yorkshire got off to a flying start when openers Andre Eslick and Ross Davey hit 43 off the first five overs. Richard Medforth gained a breakthrough when he had the former caught by Dave Sykes for 23 then the Acomb paceman had Davey stumped by his brother Richard behind the stumps for 19.

Anthony Spence reached 20 before being trapped lbw by Dave Sykes and Ian Gillian provied to be a real thorn in the York side as he made 49 before falling to another Richard Sykes catch at 152-8. The 'keeper then effected two stumpings as East Yorkshire were dismissed for 164 with Dave Sykes and Medforth each taking 3-42.

York's innings started in disastrous fashion as Jamie Mitchell, Andy Tute and Andrew Kay were all back in the pavilion with just 19 on the board as Dave Ricardo (2-15) made early inroads.

A partnership of 44 between Colin Frank and Craig Shipton was ended when the latter was run out for 13 then the introduction of Andrew Eslick into the attack caused the demise of the York side.

He dismissed Frank for 32 and followed by having Richard Sykes lbw for 23. Medforth made a brave attempt at getting the runs but lost a string of partners as Eslick worked through the tail.

With the last man at the crease 20 were needed for victory off the final over. Medforth struck the first delivery for six but was then caught on the boundary when trying to repeat his strike off the second ball and fell for 31 as York were all out for 151. Eslick's match-winning spell of 8.2 overs earned him 6-27.

East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance: A Eslick (Roos) c D Sykes b Medforth 23, R Davey (Fenner) st R Sykes b D Sykes 19, S. Fuller (Fenner) b D Sykes 0, A Spence (Beverley) lbw D Sykes 20, I Gillian (Beverley) st R Sykes b Medforth 49, N Johnson (Brandesburton) c Pitts b Yates 8, G Fewster (Blackburn Welfare) run out 5, A Acklam (Beverley) st R Sykes b Yates 1, D Craaker (Fenner) st R Sykes b Medforth 11, D Ricardo (Beverley) run out 4, S Blake not out 2. Extras 22. Total 164 all out

Fall: 1-43 2-45 3-59 4-75 5-94 6-106 7-116 8-152 9-161 10-164

Bowling: D J Sykes 10-2-42-3, R J Medforth 9.3-1-42-3, C Pitts 10-0-30-0, M Yates 10-1-38-2

York and District Senior League: J Mitchell (Beverley) c Acklam b Ricardo 0, A D Tute (Acomb) b Ricardo 5, A Kay (York) c Johnson b Craker 8, C Frank (Pickering) c Spence b Eslick 32, C Shipton (Whitkirk) run out 13, F R Sykes (Acomb) lbw b Eslick 23, R J Medforth (Hornsea) c Fewster b Eslick 31, C Pitts (Carlton Towers) st Acklam b Eslick 7, D J Sykes (Acomb) c Fewster b Eslick 6. M Yates (Malton & Old Malton) b Eslick 3, S Oldfield not out 1. Extras 22. Total 151

Fall: 1-3 2-12 3-19 4-63 5-97 6-102 7-118 8-132 9-138 10-151

D Craker 8-1-32-1, D Ricardo 5-1-15-2, G Fewster 6-0-29-0, I Gillian 2-0-11-0, S Blake 10-0-35-0, A Eslick 8.2-0-27-6

East Yorkshire Alliance won by 13 runs.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, July 31, 2004