HARD-HITTING Dom Rhodes, brother of England Under-19 captain Will, fired Stamford Bridge to the top of the Foss Evening Cricket League championship against promoted Melbourne.

His knock of 73, including three sixes in an over, kicked on the Bridge batting to eventually post 133-5. Melbourne made a creditable chase, finishing just 16 short with Olly Steels (47) and Matt Beevers (31) fighting against three-wicket hauls from Bob Hewitt and Natty Burge.

York and Heworth found scoring hard work. Nick Stephen made 28 in York’s 77-7 as Will Peet took 3-18. Dan Walton then made 27 as Heworth paced their chase well to win with five wickets and an over to spare.

Ian Holmes’ Herculean all-round efforts were in vain as Dunnington Academy prevailed over Bishopthorpe by five wickets in division two.

Holmes hit an unbeaten 75, the night’s highest score, out of 117-5. Alex Wilson claimed 3-10 for the youngsters. Adam Sutcliffe (36) and Dan Andrew (31) made the bulk of Dunnington’s runs as Holmes claimed 2-20.

Yapham’s Alex Nattrass took 3-7 in a two-over spell to have Thixendale reeling to 45 all out in a painstaking 15.3 overs. Yapham’s replay was somewhat faster, taking 11.2 overs to knock off the runs, but at the loss of five wickets.

In division three, Ovington powered to 138-8 underpinned by Tom Cookson (43), Will Osbourne (27), Craig Nicholl (25) and Pete Kelly (25). Retreat’s second string replied with 75-9.