As the HPH York Vale Cricket League season moves to a climax the weather once again took a prominent role resulting in abandoned matches and bowler friendly wickets where play was possible.

The match of the day saw division one leaders Askham Bryan YPO receive a major setback against second-placed Norwich Union.

Union struggled to make headway against the accurate Mike Hamshere, whose 20 overs gave him a 4-69 return. A fifth-wicket partnership between Smith and Gwaine Hogg added 46 precious runs to help NU struggle to 127-8.

In reply, M Baggaley top scored with 25 but nobody could get to grips with man of the match Hogg, who took 5-14 from 16 overs. At the other end, Gavin Faulker picked up the other five wickets to deliver the Insurers a 39-run victory and pole position in the division.

Westow hosted the only other game to be completed in the top division, where visitors British Sugar were indebted to Mark Bellerby's 51 in their 136-8.

Neil Earle followed his three wickets with a quick-fire 64no and with Rob Ellock scoring 43 Westow got home by nine wickets in just 21 overs.

High-fliers Burn had their wings clipped by Thixendale, but still retain a healthy lead at the top of division two.

A Watson (28) and R Adamson (72) kept Burn in contention as they collapsed to 137 all out with five wickets falling for six runs, as M Lyndsey hauled in 6-31 from 18 overs.

Thixendale were in bother at 64-6 after G Lyndsey was dismissed for 28. But a vital seventh-wicket stand between Mike England and Tyler added 46 enabling the visitors to scrape home by two wickets.

Wheldrake will be looking over their shoulders following a home defeat to Ovington, for whom Nadeen Sadiq struck a brilliant unbeaten 72 in a total of 143-8.

Carter responded with an equally impressive 89no for Wheldrake, but he lacked the support needed to force a win, as his side fell short by a mere four runs.

Burton Salmon's six-wicket defeat at the hands of Kelfield sealed their fate and a quick return to division three.

Put into bat, Burton Salmon struggled to 92 all out with only David Thornton 43 making any impression on bowlers S Schofield and M Rhodes, who shared the spoils, with the latter claiming a hat-trick.

The Kelfield innings limped along with S Smith (25) playing the anchor role, but events changed when gritty skipper Neil Atkinson came in at the fall of the fourth wicket and blasted a quick 42 to ensure victory.

York took advantage of leaders Heworth falling foul of the weather by taking a maximum 30 division three points against Malton and Old Malton.

M Hodson (70), Tom Copeland (30) and Greg Allison (40) plundered the visitors' attack to reach an impressive 182-5. In the field, York never relaxed the pressure, Sharpe taking 7-30 as Malton were fired out for 124.

There was a surprise in store for division four leaders Acomb, who were beaten by lowly Selby in a closely fought encounter. However, they still have a 27-point cushion over second-placed Bishopthorpe.

Acomb wickets fell at regular intervals with only Dickenson 33 and Crawford 24 taking the honours as Gareth Pearce 3-44 and C Patterson 3-29 kept the score to 135-9. A Hullah then gave Selby a sound base with 38, Paterson chipping in with 29, but it took a masterful 41 from N Darley to squeeze past the target with just three balls to spare.

Bishopthorpe earned a welcome 94-run win at home to Melbourne with Mike Brown 5-20 doing most of the damage.

Ovington took sufficient points from their two weekend games to all but wrap up the division five championship.

Against Stockton and Hopgrove, Alan Fletcher held the innings together with a patient 37, while Craig Theaker added a more boisterous 39 to lift the Ovington total to 140-7.

The hosts had no answer to the bowling of Bilal Hussain (3-6) and 16-year-old Jack Stearman (3-6) as they were shot out for 56.

Updated: 09:40 Thursday, August 26, 2004