PROMOTED Clifton Alliance continued their brilliant start to the top flight of the HPH York Vale Cricket League with a last-ball victory at Burn.

They remain the only club with a maximum 90 points thanks to a magnificent 119 not out by Jason Gatus to overhaul the home side’s 236-2.

Clifton were in trouble at 38-3 with Alex Webster (4-22) removing both openers but former York City Knights rugby league player Gatus smashed 10 boundaries and nine sixes in a match-winning innings.

Earlier, Tom Bourke had stroked an excellent unbeaten 111, featuring in an opening stand of 128 with Leigh Adamson (52).

Ovington’s batsmen dominated Kelfield, openers Tom Cookson (70) and Pete Kelly (79) enjoying a stand of 126 in 281 all out.

The second wicket did not go down until 192 but then Ovington lost wickets at regular intervals to Jimmy Still (5-71).

In reply, Kelfield’s third-wicket pair, Jamie Wheeler (67) and Neil Atkinson (24), put on 76 but Kelfield fell short, Dom Kitching finishing with 4-39.

Askham Bryan struggled against Westow after a mix-up between star batsmen Parag Mohite and Mark Grewer (76) saw the prolific Mohite run out by Nathan Pratt. Askham made a below par 158-8.

Westow’s openers Mark Earle (76no) and Andrew Welford (46) batted out the first four overs as maidens but pushed on to have 100 on the board inside the 22nd over. Welford was the only wicket to fall as Westow won with 13 overs to spare.

Stockton & Hopgrove’s response to Melbourne’s huge 263-6 was led by an outstanding 90 by Giles Smith, who hammered six maximums and eight fours. But while Smith blazed away at one end, wickets fell at the other as Melbourne recorded a 101-run win.

Both Wheldrake and Ben Johnson lost a wicket to the first ball of their innings, but it was the village side who recovered with Anthony Carter (63) top scoring in 180 before falling to a brilliant one-handed catch by Steve Wragg. Dave Fearn (4-38) then struck twice in his first over and BJ were eventually rolled over for just 70.

Veteran Les Milburn rolled back the years with an unbeaten 116 to lead Thixendale to victory against Yapham in division two. Will Megginson supported with 63 and despite 4-36 from Andrew Noble, Thixendale amassed a match-winning 236-7.

Hemingbrough skipper Leo Howard’s 62 and 3-24 could not prevent his side slumping to a four-wicket defeat against Thorpe Willoughby.

Acomb continued their strong start in division three with victory against Yapham II. Tom Walsh was their standout bowler with figures of 10-2-21-4.

Patrick Abbott (72) and Sam Edwards (50) shared a 105-run partnership for Burn II, whose Will Edwards thrashed 71, against Pocklington.

Chasing 220-5, Ted Baty compiled 48 and skipper Simon Baty launched six sixes and four boundaries in his 64, but once he became one of wicketkeeper Edwards’ three stumping victims Pock ran out of gas.

Thorpe Willoughby II’s Sam Hinch moved the ball both ways, finishing his 12 overs with a match-winning 7-22 against Stamford Bridge II.

Selby’s Richard Mustill batted almost the full 40 overs for 50 not out against Dunnington whose batsmen swept them to victory. Steve Jackson scored an unbeaten 85 and Harry Paver smashed a 20-ball 54 not out. Paver’s blitz included seven boundaries and two sixes while Jackson stroked 14 fours.

Press Performance of the Week: Sam Hinch, of Thorpe Willoughby II, cut through Stamford Bridge II in division three with 7-22.