MAN of the moment Craig Nicoll produced another whirlwind innings as Ovington kept their outside HPH York Vale Cricket League title hopes alive.

The record run-maker followed last week's unbeaten 248 by smashing 96 in under 11 overs against Fulfordgate. Earlier Fulfordgate had reached 156-8 thanks to in-form Liam Hancy (63), rebuilding the innings from 16-3.

Nicoll and Tom Ashby put on 111 for the first wicket with Nicoll's innings including 11 fours and five sixes as the target was chased down in 20 overs.

North Cave are showing few signs of cracking in the defence of their title, seeing off Melbourne by nine wickets. Melbourne could not get to grips with the bowling of John Buttle who finished with 2-14 from 9.4 overs and Mike Stellings (5-31). Cave were sped home by Charlie Cockin (61).

Bishopthorpe’s Scott Clapham’s 88-ball 125 was the bedrock of an imposing 242-8 against Ben Johnson who were shot out for 80.

Stockton & Hopgrove ended a run of five successive defeats by beating Burn. Richard Kerrison holding the Stockton innings together with 88.

Sam Dunn had a great all-round game with 5-40 and a knock of 46 as Kelfield beat bottom side North Duffield by seven wickets.

Westow underscored their promotion credentials with a crushing win over division two leaders Wheldrake, Mark Earle hitting a 108. His first 50 runs were achieved with 12 fours and a two. He brought his ton up in style with two consecutive sixes.

Hirst Courtney thumped depleted Heworth with Phil Alford and Jake Wild both scoring 112 not out. Wild has now gone 116, 99 and 112, all unbeaten, in his last three innings against Heworth.

At 120-1 Clifton Alliance looked set to overhaul Ovington II’s 204-9 with Owen Marshall (63) and Chris Elliott (37) well set but their stand of 107 was ended, triggering a collapse as Ovington won by 32 runs.

Sid Sharma (114no) scored his maiden Vale League century as South Cave & Brantingham beat Stillingfleet.

Career-best bowling by Danny Crockford earned Thorpe Willoughby bragging rights against Selby in division three. His figures of 8-29 from 12 overs were the second-best in the league this season.

Pocklington and Acomb fought out a tie with both sides scoring 201. Pock’s Rich Bower made 84, hitting five sixes and striking nine boundaries before a ruptured Achilles forced him to retire hurt. Acomb skipper Simon Brown (64) was out in the final over but youngsters Charlie Marshall and Thomas Brown managed to level the scores from the remaining balls.

Bishopthorpe II’s Charlie Featherstone, in his first game of the season, took 7-49 against Malton & Old Malton. However, Ollie Varey (6-14) and Will Scholefield (2-19) had Bishopthorpe reeling at 15-4. Varey took three wickets in his final over as Bishopthorpe were all out for 60

Kareem Baqai (70) and Andrew Tomlinson (55) shared a 135-run and Tim Burgess, aged 13, made an unbeaten 50 from 45 balls as Ovington III totalled a winning 251-5 against Malton & Old Malton II.

Press Performance of the Week

Danny Crockford’s 8-29 earned Thorpe Willoughby victory against neighbours Selby in division three