SWING bowler Adrian Upton claimed his first five-wicket haul as Westow romped to victory against Ben Johnson in division one of the HPH York Vale Cricket League.

Openers Mark Earle (45) and Andrew Welford (72) put on 111 for Westow, who closed on 217-7 at tea. Ben Johnson made a solid start at 49-2 but Upton (5-21) changed the game completely with a brilliant spell as five wickets went down without any addition to the total and the printers were all out for 71.

Burn maintained their recent good form by skittling Kelfield for just 39. Destroyers-in-chief were opening bowlers Alex Webster (3-8) and Graham Robson (4-16). Burn openers Jamie Bingle and Tom Bourke knocked the runs off in just 38 deliveries.

Leaders Bishopthorpe scraped a two-wicket victory at Melbourne as they made hard work of chasing a modest total of 128-8.

Melbourne were indebted to Oliver Steels, who stayed at the crease for 27 overs for 48. Ben Thompson (3-33) struck three times early on to reduce Bishopthorpe to 36-3 but Andrew Seager (40) nudged the Bishops to victory with eight overs in hand.

Anthony Carter (74) and Martin Lambert (27) provided Wheldrake a platform for a high score but wickets tumbled to Buckley (5-37) and the villagers could only total 147. An unbroken partnership of 87 between Tom Cookson (77no) and Craig Nicholl (44no) saw Ovington cruise home by eight wickets.

Acomb strengthened their grip on the leadership of division two with a comfortable win against Hemingbrough while nearest rivals Ovington II slid to defeat.

Hemingbrough were reduced to 8-4 as bowlers Chris Burton and Adam Stroughair created havoc. Matthew Whitaker (42) hit back before being removed by a flighted first ball from Stephen Lennox (3-16). The rest of the wickets fell easily as Acomb dismissed a team for less than 100 for the third time this season.

Ovington II lost ground on Acomb when they were beaten by South Cave & Brantingham despite a fine 90 from Joe Whale, who was stumped ten short of his maiden century.

Askham Bryan got off to a flier against Malton & Old Malton with Parag Mohite and James McCullough hitting 43 and 30 respectively before Mark Grewer smashed 68 to get the home side to 231 which Malt could not match.

Josh Bean extracted bounce and turn to bowl five Fulfordgate batsmen for just 14 runs as Clifton Alliance eased to victory.

Thixendale and Thorpe Willoughby both won again to continue to set the pace at the top of division three. Thorpe beat Burn II at in a low scoring affair which saw veteran Dave Watson roll back the years with an excellent figures of 12-6-11-2.

Thixendale’s win against Bishopthorpe II took a similar course to Thorpe’s victory. The Dale were bowled out for 132, Jamie Blackburn taking 4-26. The Bishops were dismissed for just 81 against a seven-man Thixendale attack.

Stamford Bridge’s stand-in skipper Dave Quick produced a good all-round performance in the win against Yapham II, taking 5-25 with his off-spin and then making 34 not out. The result leaves Bridge joint top of division four with Pocklington, who successfully defended 147-9 at The Gannock with a solid team performance.

Ashley Rowden made 54 and Miles Buckle had great figures of 10-2-38-5 as Tadcaster Magnet beat Thorpe Willoughby II.