TWO Countess of Feversham Cup semi-final matches were played this week, with Slingsby sealing their place in the final with a 22-run victory against Duncombe Park.

Duncombe Park won the toss and elected to field, a decision that looked to have paid off when a couple of early wickets left Slingsby 19-2 after 4.1 overs.

However, an innings-defining partnership between brothers Jack and Ben Corner saw the pair put on 67 from just 6.1 overs before the latter was dismissed in unusual circumstances.

He hit a no ball high into the air, and after having seen the ball dropped by bowler Adam Dunn, set off down the wicket before being run out for an excellent 41 off just 30 balls.

That left Slingsby 86-3, but after a couple of quick dismissals - including Corner for 29 - they were in danger of fading away before Stuart Watmore and Bailey Shaw (who hit his first-ever six) saw them reach a credible 128-7.

Duncombe Park made a steady start in their reply before the introduction of Mark Walford, who made an instant impact with a wicket from his first ball.

His bowling then saw the dangerous Thomas Fairburn removed for 14 with the score at 28-2 after 6.1 overs.

Undaunted, Will Baum (34) and Percy Marwood (26) put on 42 in three-and-a-half overs, but though Duncombe Park continued to push for victory, a smart catch by youngster Zach Turner removed Adam Durrant and they ended on 106-8.

Whilst devoid of the same thrills, there was still plenty to admire as Whitwell-on-the-Hill met visiting Glaisdale for the first time.

Without two of their best players, Glaisdale knew they were in for a tough challenge, but did manage to remove Richard Harrison for 11.

However, it was Whitwell’s second-wicket partnership that did the damage, with Richard Hudson and Chris Smith putting on 141 runs before the former was dismissed by Paul Sedman (2-6) for 66.

They finished on a formidable 182-4, with Smith unbeaten on 71.

Glaisdale wasted no time in their pursuit of runs, with Gareth Ludlam crashing his first ball to the boundary before being dismissed in his next delivery.

Despite the near-impossible target, several players delivered credible cameos, including Sam Wright (18), Lucas Simpson (17 not out, a senior personal best) and Iain Groark (14) as they ended on 97-6.

Elsewhere, there was one Feversham League match played, with Lockton coming away from Rosedale Abbey with an emphatic 10-wicket victory.

Rosedale managed 71- 9 in 16 overs, with the best batting coming from Roy Matisse (19), Billy Sullivan (14) and Josh Raines (13).

Jack Garritty enjoyed  bowling figures of 2-5, followed by Jack Bradshaw (2-12) and Mike Dawson (2-13). There were two run outs.

Karl Edmond (32 not out) and Charlie Coulson (24 not out) made batting look easy, and, with the help of 17 extras, Lockton reached their target in 13.3 overs.