YORK and District Senior League champions Dunnington made it a hat-trick of wins when they won the President's Trophy Challenge yesterday by beating last season's runners-up, Acomb, by seven wickets.

They added the trophy to their League and Premier Cup double of last year.

However Acomb, despite lacking the services of the injured Richard Sykes, made the holders fight all the way in the most competitive game seen in the competition after posting 181-6.

They were still in with a chance until Collis King cracked 24 runs off the 36th over as he raced to an unbeaten 39.

Earlier Acomb had been given a sound start by Chris Simpson and Sri Lankan Sanjaya Rodrigo with the pair narrowly failing to record a century stand when Chris Simpson was caught and bowled by Hamed Khan for 48 at 97. Rodrigo continued to display a series of wristy strokes and moved to 59 before he too fell to Khan at 134 as Simon Kellett took the catch. Dave Kitching then carved holes in Acomb's middle order as he took 4-35 and it was left to Paul Hemmingway to lift the score to 181-6 with an unbeaten 31.

Dunnington's opening pairing of Simon Kellett and Hamed Khan threatened to win the game off their own bats as they progressed to 126 before the former Yorkshire county player was bowled by Rodrigo for 65.

New recruit Dave Greenlay's stay was somewhat brief as he was caught by James Byford off Dave Stroughair for five then Khan was well caught in the deep by Scott Nicholls for 64 as Andy Tute put Acomb back in with a chance.

King and Harwood Williams were subdued for a short while but King then launched an attack in the 46th over when he hit 24, then ended the proceedings with a towering six which landed high on the pavilion roof to move to 39no and win the game by seven wickets.

King was then presented with the trophy by the donor and immediate past president, Denzil Webster.

SCOREBOARD

President's Trophy

(at Common Lane, Dunnington)

Acomb: C Simpson c&b Khan 48, K S Rodrigo c Kellett b Khan 59, A D Tute c Miles b Kitching 10, P Hemmingway not out 31, L Sacks b Kitching 2, S Nicholls st Miles b Kitching, M.Dickinson c Greenlay b Kitching 2, J.Byford not out 6. Extras 22 Total 181-6.

Did not bat: A Sykes, D Sykes and D Stroughair.

Bowling: J McHale 4-1-11-0, D Kitching 8-0-35-4, D I Greenlay 8-0-32-0, M Coulson 4-1-16-0, S M Precious 8-0-31-0, M H Khan 8-0-37-2.

Dunnington: S A Kellett b Rodrigo 65, M H Khan c Nicholls b Tute 64,; D I Greenlay c Byfield b Stroughair 5, C L King not out 39, H Williams not out 7. Extras 4 Total 184-3 (36.3 overs).

Did not bat: A I Kallicharran, P A Miles, J McHale, D Kitching, M Coulson and S M Precious did not bat.

Bowling: A Sykes 8-1-25-0, D Sykes 6-0-11-0, K S Rodrigo 8-0-38-1, J Byford 5-0-39-0, D Stroughair 5.3-0-29-1, A D Tute 4-0-39-1.

Dunnington won by seven wickets.

Updated: 09:54 Monday, April 28, 2003