KELFIELD hauled themselves off the bottom of division one of the HPH York Vale Cricket League with victory against fellow strugglers Stockton & Hopgrove.

Kelfield crawled to 45-3 from 21 overs before a partnership of 85 in 15 overs between the Walker brothers, Chris (50 not out) and Matt (53), saw them total 161. Ryan Lorryman then claimed 6-25 in 8.2 overs as Stockton were bowled out for 128.

Westow recorded their third straight win by beating a Wheldrake outfit whose eight-man side were skittled for just 43, Jamie Smith taking his first ‘five-for’ with 6-31.

Burn, who put on 70 runs in their last ten overs against Melbourne, finished on 168-7 with Ed Clark unbeaten on 62. Loan player Matt Besford bowled well for 5-26.

Melbourne limped to 29-4 and although wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Beevers added 69 to his five catches and a stumping, Melbourne could only manage 117-9.

Bishopthorpe took five wickets for four runs to reduce Ben Johnson to 68-7. However Pradeep’s quickfire 50 pushed the total up to 122 before he ran out of partners. Bishopthorpe’s Mark Ford finished things off with 27 not out from just 14 balls to seal the win with 15 overs to spare.

Malton & Old Malton beat Hirst Courtney in a dramatic finish at the Gannock.

Hirst were bowled out for 126 but hit back as Malt struggled against quick bowler Jake Wild. Chris Bingham (41) managed to break Wild’s stranglehold with a six and eventually Malton scrambled home by a single wicket with only two balls left.

Stillingfleet newcomer Luke Allderidge’s run-a-ball 44 against South Cave & Brantingham laid the platform for a 93-run last-ten-overs salvo led by Rob Murray with a 30-ball 48 not out. Fleet’s total of 211 from 30 overs was soon beyond Cave as Chris Woodfine (4-32) removed the top order.

Rain ruined the top-of-the table clash between Acomb and Askham Bryan.

Leaders Acomb were in command at 138-1 after 25 overs chasing the visitors’ 195-9 when a torrential downpour arrived. Parag Mohite hit 64 for Askham before being snared by Stephen Lennox (5-45). Matt Williams (53no) and Andy Ingle (33no) put Acomb in control, only to be thwarted by the weather.

Thorpe Willoughby hit the top of division three after a 74-run win against Thorp Arch & Boston Spa.

Tony Hinch (57no) and Ross Powell (63) powered Thorpe to 237-4. Thorp Arch skipper Matthew Bentley showed his class with 77, racing to his half-century in only six overs, but Dave Watson (5-29) and Andy Jackson (4-58) wrapped up the visitors’ win.

Despite the damp weather, 400 runs were scored at Thixendale where the home side were beaten by Yapham and lost top spot in the process.

Adam Smith (109) and Alex Brown (68) put on 166 to get Yapham on the front foot. With Stephen Hutchinson smashing the last four balls of the innings for 20, Yapham finished with 220 to defend. Simon Walgate (71) and Geoff Room (42) responded but the chase petered out as the run-rate rose.

Burn II teenager Will Edwards, playing his first game of the season, took Bishopthorpe II’s bowlers apart with a blistering 82 which helped Burn to a match-winning score of 223-4.

Press Performance of the Week: Adam Smith’s 109 for Yapham against Thixendale in division three was one of the few centuries this season.