HEMINGBROUGH'S Maqsood Akhbar has become became the first player to reach 1,000 runs for the season.

He hit 10no against Heworth while Nathan Briggs contributed 31no at the other end in an undefeated opening partnership of 144 as Hemingbrough beat Heworth by ten wickets in division three.

Heworth made 142-7, with useful contributions coming from Richard Woodmansey (32), Joel Johnson (29) and Jonathan Elsegood (25), while Stuart Cox's return of 4-38 took his season's total to 38 wickets.

Akhbar has achieved a new league record of seven centuries in a season, surpassing the previous best of six shared by Collis King (in 2000) and M Hafeez (in 2001). He still needs another 577 runs, however, to overtake another of King's records - the current League and also division four record aggregate of 1,668 runs in 1996.

The division three record aggregate of 1,153 runs, set by Richard Tuite for Rowntrees in 1994, is only 61 runs away and certainly well within reach.

Leaders Hovingham posted their fifth consecutive victory with a seven-wicket win over Woodhouse Grange.

Stephen Mosey captured 3-23 and John Fairburn took 2-9 in nine miserly overs as Grange were shot out for 89.

A mere 58 points now separate Grange, in fifth place, from bottom-placed Civil Service. Even one of the two early season pace-setters, Heslington, must now be

starting to look a little nervously over their shoulders.

Following last week's defeat by lowly Civil Service, Heslington faced a tougher prospect when they entertained third-placed New Earswick.

John Hetherton scored 108 as Earswick took full advantage of the batting conditions in glorious weather to record the division's highest total for the day of 246.

Chris Smith and Andy Routledge joined in the fun by striking 42 and 33 respectively at better than a run a ball.

Martin Hewitson then took 5-55 to ensure that Earswick won to move within ten points of second-placed Hemingbrough.

Bolton Percy won by two wickets at Bubwith. Bolton, who have still to record an innings total this season in excess of

200 runs, were set a target of 181, a total to which Paul Van Dyke (41) and Brian Last (29) were the principal contributors. The pick of the Percy bowlers was Abdul Rigby (3-45). Rigby also added 26 runs to the 44 scored by 18-year-old Danny White.

Four Yapham batsmen made significant contributions to their side's total of 212-4 against Pickering - wicketkeeper Ben Rees (48), Barry Pearson (39), Jon Flint (36) and Tim Lazenby (38no). Despite a spirited 32 no by 17-year-old Philip Aconley, Yapham then restricted hosts Pickering to 135-6, with Paul Barnes, who has not bowled in the league since the beginning of May, taking 3-8.

Clifton Alliance topped the 200-run mark on the back of half centuries for both Jonathan Stevens and Chris Dower - the latter undefeated. Service replied with 170-6 - 30 runs short of the mark, despite 66 from Gavin Ritchie.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, August 11, 2003