THERE was a dramatic finish to Pickering's home match against Heworth in the premier division of Hunters the Estate Agent York and District Senior League.

The home side snatched a one run victory in a breathtaking climax which saw Chris Nicholls run out the final two Heworth batsmen off the last two balls.

Both sides gained maximum batting points by exceeding 200 runs, Pickering going on to collect a rare maximum of 30 points to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

Pickering openers Chris Nicholls and Mark Shepherd set the tone of the match with an opening stand of 94, Nicholls hitting 55 and his partner 37.

Colin Frank then cracked 51, but Guy Wilkinson (three for six) got some control.

Pickering were able to gain full batting points at 203 for eight.

In Heworth's reply, Dave Simpson made 22 before Mike Brook and Paul Mosey each added 42.

Other runs came from Shahid Khan (27) and Chris Meade (23), but Pickering's Aussie, Joe Crosswell, took four for 59.

With Craig Aconley taking three outfield catches, Heworth's reply wobbled but they still seemed likely winners as they reached 202 for eight with two balls remaining.

Chris Nicholls then put in another telling contribution as he earned his side a thrilling victory by running out the last two batsmen off the two remaining deliveries.

The 'match of the day' saw Woodhouse Grange salvage a draw against pace-setting Dunnington despite the presence in the leaders' side of Essex county opening bowler Joe Grant.

Batsmen struggled on a difficult wicket as Kashif Raza claimed four for 31 in 18 overs. Harwood Williams top scored with 49, while Collis King's 26 was the only other notable score in Dunnington's total of 156 for nine.

In reply, Richard Steel made 26 and Neal Jackson 27, but Grant, in his first outing of the season for Dunnington, bowled 24 overs to capture four for 75 and restrict The Grange to 138 for eight.

Thirsk's batsmen again performed creditably when they hit 191 for nine at Acomb, but again had little to show when the home side were able to move to a four wicket victory.

Four batsmen contributed to the Thirsk score, with Darren Wyrill making 39, Dave Greenlay 40, John Harper 44 and Des Wyrill 30.

Dave Sykes claimed four for 88 and Shanuka Dissanayake four for 57 for the hosts, who were then taken to victory by Richard Sykes (63) and Andy Tute (48).

Teenager Richard Bentley, who helped the York League side win their first round White Rose Trophy tie the previous Sunday, claimed four for 55.

Clifton Alliance batsman Dave Taylor hit one of the highest scores in the league so far this season when he made 140 against Pocklington.

Taylor's innings should surely have been cut off in its infancy for he was dropped three times on the score of ten before going on to punish the Pocklington fielders.

Travis Borlace weighed in with 47 in an entertaining total of 244 all out. One-time Wilberfoss player Peter Powell took three for 46 while Nathan Schultz closed the Clifton innings in the 48th over by taking three for 12 in 2.4 overs.

Pocklington's reply was led by skipper Andy Inns with 56, while Ian Camwell aided with 27 but James Postill took three for 38 and the innings closed at 178 for nine as the visitors survived for a draw.

Easingwold beat visitors Sheriff Hutton Bridge by ten wickets. Paul Oldfield made 31 of the Bridge tital of 127 for eight as James Pringle took three for 20.

Jonathon Marwood then made 73 not out as he and Martin Piercy, who played much of his youth cricket for the Bridge, got the runs without loss, with Piercy reaching an unbeaten 50.

Osbaldwick maintained their good start to the season with a profitable draw against Beverley Town. Osbaldwick took the full five batting points by reaching 204 for six, Mark Thompson making 46 and Damon Aston 48 not out.

Former Brooklands (Hull) player Dave Thompson then had his best bowling in the York League with eight for 38. There was some good fielding but no other bowler took a scalp and Beverley drew at 157 for eight.

Updated: 11:24 Monday, May 27, 2002