Studley Royal CC see off Beckwithshaw CC to blow Championship West title race wide open

As a result, both sides now sit joint top of the table, along with two other teams, with all four of them locked on a total of 170 points with just one round of fixtures remaining.

Studley got themselves into a strong position in the game after putting 233/6 on the board in 50 overs thanks to a fine knock of 98 by Rob Nicholson, plus useful contributions from Leo Wilson (33) and captain Johnny Harding (31 not out).

Peter Hotchkiss (50) hit a half-century when Beckwithshaw responded, but Ethan Roberts (3-16) and Dan Craven (3-24) combined to good effect to make sure that the Stags’ reply did not progress any further than 161 all out.

‘Shaw remain top of the pile, while Studley stay fourth. Colton Institute currently sit in third, with Arthington second following their two-wicket victory at Bilton In Ainsty.

The Frogs posted 203 all out, Francis Kinsella top-scoring with 37 as Usama Shahid took 4-42.

Skipper Naveed Andrabi (68) and Abdul Saboor (58) then impressed with the bat to guide Arthington to 205/8 in 33 overs.

Tim Lambert bowled nicely for Bilton, finishing up with a return of 3-31.

This Saturday, Beckwithshaw entertain Bolton Percy, Arthington host Whitkirk and Studley Royal travel to Colton Institute, with all four sides knowing that they have to win if they want to finish in one of the division’s two promotion places.

Elsewhere in Championship West, rock-bottom Sessay 2nds’ relegation was confirmed by their 127-run crushing at Bolton Percy.

The hosts made 241/8 despite the efforts of Luke Burnett and A Lees, who grabbed a trio of wickets apiece.

But, the Thirsk outfit were then knocked over for 114, with Chris Till (37) the only away batsmen to make any real impression.

Meanwhile, third-from-bottom Knaresborough 2nds are still at risk of finishing inside the drop zone after they were routed by Oulton.

Chasing a mammoth first-innings score of 325/7, then men from Aspin Lane were all out for just 54.

Harrogate CC’s 1st XI suffered a four-wicket reverse at the hands of Sheriff Hutton Bridge in the Premier Division.

Arjun Ramkumar impressed once again for the Roosters, weighing in with 80 of their total of 187/7 in 50 overs, while Jack Shutt hit 31.

Bridge did not find the going easy when they replied, but eventually got over the line with 13 balls in hand.

That result keeps ‘Gate sixth in the table, where they sit two places better off than local rivals Knaresborough.

Greg Pickles’ men paid a visit to relegation-threatened Hull Zingari on Saturday, and managed to lose that match by a six-wicket margin.

William Wade (83), Patham Pawaluge (42) and Pickles (42) all contributed as the visitors made their way to 223/5, though that score did not prove to be enough.

Harrogate 2nds took a huge stride towards securing their Premier Division Two status when they sank Acomb to move 10 points clear of the drop zone.

George Owram (56) and Will Bates (52) both struck vital half-centuries to set the St George’s Road outfit on their way to 208/6 in 50 overs.

Bates then completed a superb afternoon’s work by claiming 5-49 to help bowl Acomb out 12 runs short of their victory target.

Sessay beat Fairburn by 13 runs to go third in the table and keep their very slim promotion hopes alive heading into the final weekend of the 2026 season.

Ayana Siriwardhana (58) and Stuart Clark (54) led the home team to 216/8 before Ben Kettlewell’s excellent haul of 6-30 ended the away reply with the scoreboard reading 203.