BURN’S HPH York Vale Cricket League division one title hopes suffered a major blow as they were surprisingly beaten by Ben Johnson.

The match had a thrilling finale with Burn eight down needing 12 to win with two overs remaining.

Darren Lovatt bowled the penultimate over and his first ball went for four and the next for two. Two dot balls followed before he removed Tom Cobley and Mike Smith in successive deliveries to win the game for the printers.

Ben Johnson had made 144-7 in 30 overs with new player Parvez Khan opening with 39. He then took 4-29 to blow away Burn’s middle order.

Ovington moved firmly back into contention after thumping Stockton & Hopgrove.

Stockton were punished for dropping Stefan Littlewood a couple of times before he had reached double figures as he went on to score an unbeaten 125, sharing an unbroken partnership of 129 with Neil Metcalfe (39no).

Tom Cookson also scored 89 as Ovington piled up 282-5. S&H were bowled out for 128, Dom Everard finishing with figures of 8-2-21-5.

Neil Atkinson set up Kelfield’s win against Westow by batting through the 40 overs for 69 on a difficult wicket in overcast conditions .

Dan Nicholson blew Melbourne’s batting line-up away with figures of 7.4-2-9-5, Melbourne crumbling to 60 all out.

Hemingbrough upset the odds in division two with victory against high-flying Ovington II thanks to a brilliant all-round display by David Howard.

He scored 71, sharing a stand of 82 with John Cockerill (48), then took 5-19 to put Brough in command. When Ovington counter-attacked he broke a crucial stand with a catch before winning the game with a run out.

South Cave & Brantingham tore through Acomb’s middle order to end their unbeaten start to the season, Anuj Bahl having a triple wicket maiden on his way to figures of 5-2-6-4.

In division three, tight bowling by Burn II restricted Thixendale to 43-1 at drinks but Jonty Gillingham smashed 82 before departing to spinner Ashley Abbott who took 6-32 as Dale totalled 188. Tom Harland’s rapid 69 set up Burn’s win.

Bishopthorpe II bowler Jamie Blackburn produced a career-best 7-12 from 10.3 overs as Selby were bowled out for just 43. Bishopthorpe eased to an eight-wicket win in just 14.2 overs

The top of the division four clash between Stamford Bridge and Pocklington, both undefeated, proved to be a one-sided affair.

Asked to bat first on a damp pitch offering considerable bounce, Pocklington struggled to 48 all out as Martin Veysey used conditions to the full in a spell of 10-6-11-5.

Thorpe Willoughby made exactly 100 against Ovington III but managed to successfully defend the modest total.

Ovington were reduced to 1-3 and 19-6 before being bowled out for 71 as Jordan Leybourn bowled his 12 overs straight through, taking 5- 25, starting with two wicket maidens and finishing with two wickets in the last three balls of his spell.

In between that he also managed to get two direct hit run outs from more than 30 yards.

Greg Ashcroft (61) continued his good form for Dunnington against Malton & Old Malton II. The Common Road side finished on 196-9 with the experienced Mick Liversidge taking 5-39. Ten man Malton fought hard but were bowled out for 91.

Press Performance of the Week: David Howard (Hemingbrough) hit 71, took 5-19, held a key catch and won the division two game against Ovington II with a run out.