HARROGATE took a giant step towards winning the Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League title with an eight-wicket victory over nearest rivals York at Shipton Road.

An indifferent batting display in the face of some fine spin bowling saw the hosts bowled out for 131 having been 60-1,

Duncan Snell’s 32 was the top score as David Foster finished with 6-36 and George Ross 2-23 the pair bowling in tandem for almost 31 overs.

Skipper Ross then finished unbeaten on 84 in a winning century stand with Jonathan Tattersall to take their side 17 points clear of their would be challengers.

Yorkshire Academy have drawn level with second placed York as they won for the fifth week in a row.

Their latest victory came following a dominant display at home to Scarborough, James Logan taking 5-32 as the visitors crashed from 71-1 to 122 all out.

Openers Harry Brook (53no) and Benjamin Ainsley (56no) then swept the hosts to victory off just 23.2 overs, Ainsley having now scored 313 in his last four innings whilst being dismissed just once.

Andrew Simpson (78) and Peter Shally (63) shared an opening stand of 150 for Hull at Sheriff Hutton Bridge, both eventually dismissed by Jordan Grosse (3-39),

Chris Grey (49) and Ross Davy (40no) also contributed to the visitors’ total of 254, but for the fourth consecutive match they finished on the losing side.

Samuel Anthony (112) became the first batsmen to record three Premier League centuries, and a half-century from skipper Adam Fisher (53) helped secure a five-wicket win for the home side.

That was despite three wickets from Steve Sargeant (3-71)

Josh Jackson finished with figures of 5-52 as Woodhouse Grange held hosts Driffield Town to a total of 208-8.

Ben Kohler-Cadmore top scored with 64, but that still proved to be out of reach for the visitors as they finished on 178-8.

Chris Bilton (47) and Mike Burdett (34) were the key batsmen as despite three wickets each for Nick Hardgrave (3-58) and Alec Drury (3-38) Grange picked up losing draw points batting second for the fifth time in the current campaign.

Castleford kept alive their hopes of staying in the top flight as they followed up last week’s win over Dunnington with victory by 37 runs away at Stamford Bridge.

Liam Hyde, who went into the match with a season’s best of 27, struck an unbeaten century and shared a second wicket partnership of 130 with overseas signing Mohammed Waqas (72) in a total of 233-6.

Eddie Morrison took 3-61 as the home side replied with 196-7, Dominic Rhodes making 46 and Sam Tennant 34.

Dunnington’s relegation could be confirmed as early as next week after they suffered a 16th defeat of the season despite a partnership of 190 from Tom Loten (73) and West Indian Steve Liburd (118).

The pairs’ second wicket stand formed the basis of their side’s highest total of the season, 273-9, coming despite five wickets from Joe Dale (5-62).

Matthew Dale (55), Tom Neal (50) and Jonny Rawsthorne (53no) all made half-centuries as the visitors reached their target with three overs to spare.