SCARBOROUGH won a thrilling head-to-head battle with Woodhouse Grange to strengthen their lead at the summit of the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League premier division.

It was the battle of the table's top two and it was the hosts who edged a five run victory at North Marine Road.

Having chosen to bat first, Scarborough were indebted to the division’s leading run scorer Darren Harland, whose 52 - along with 31 from Jack Holt - provided the majority of their total of 164 all out.

David Suddaby (4-58) and Josh Jackson (3-18) did an excellent job of containment for Grange. In reply, Chris Bilton made 65 but was unable to find support as Theo Smith (4-29) and Yorkshire’s Ryan Gibson (3-43) ensured it would be the leaders that came out on top.

With only a handful of points separating Scarborough’s would be challengers, both Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Acomb took advantage by climbing above Woodhouse Grange in the table.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge were convincing winners at York II, despite the efforts of Richard Brown (42), who held up the visitors for a time before Jordan Grose (4-36) and Russell Robinson (3-45) eventually bowled them out for 144 off the final ball of the 50th over.

Louis Foxton then made 48 before an unbeaten half century from Robert Pinder inflicted a fifth consecutive defeat on the Clifton Park outfit.

Acomb strengthened their claim for a place in next season’s new top flight with victory by 20 runs in a low scoring match at home to Heworth.

Skipper Andy Tute must have feared the worst when his side were bowled out for only 94, Joe Dale top scoring with 30 as Salman Syed returned figures of 5-4, but it was the captain himself who turned things around, taking 4-12 as the visitors were dismissed for just 74.

Stamford Bridge inflicted a sixth defeat in seven matches on Studley Royal.

Sam Tennant (4-29) and Kevin Murphy (3-50) kept a tight control over proceedings with only Matthew Coad (32) making a notable contribution to a total of 124.

The visitors did manage to take five wickets, but Dom Rhodes (51) steadied things and Murphy completed an excellent all-round performance with an unbeaten 41 to see Stamford Bridge home.

Dunnington played host to Easingwold, both clubs harbouring genuine hopes of a top six finish, and it was the home side who enhanced their chances when winning by six wickets.

Martyn Piercy and Kyle Waite both scored half centuries for Easingwold but neither were able to prevent a promising position of 119-2 becoming 185 all out as Jake Murphy (3-46) and Harwood Williams (3-34) both took three wickets.

Murphy then scored 34 before an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 83 between Jack Bolam (75no) and Tom Lotten (23no) saw Dunnington home.

Clifton Alliance’s Joe Ashdown (110) scored his third century of the campaign, which came in response to Paul Scrowston’s 97, as Fenner took the majority of the points from a drawn game.

David Friend (4-50) and Alex Renton (4-47) shared eight wickets but could not prevent the visitors making 235, Liam Feasey (46) and Jacob Duffill (34) both helping boost the total.

Steve Sargent also finished with four wickets as, despite the efforts of Ashdown and Renton (32), the home side were left holding on at 216-9.

Jack Storey (124) was the day’s other centurion. He and Guy Martinson (72) helped Hull Zingari to a match winning total of 288-6 against Beverley Town despite four wickets from Kieran Thompson.

The division’s bottom side never looked likely to chase down such an imposing target with only Olly Grantham reaching 30 as Matthew Bunn retuned figures of 3-32 from a total of 139 all out.