STEVE DRAKE plundered his second big century in as many appearances as Askham Bryan crushed Ovington in the HPH York Vale Cricket League division one.

He bludgeoned 173 not out with no other Askham player managing more than 15 in the home side’s total of 228-7.

Askham had been reduced to 20-4 but Drake, batting at four, followed up his opening day 141 not out against Melbourne, by smashing 13 sixes and what is believed to be a club-record individual score.

He dominated a partnership of 74 with Ian Hall before his unbeaten eighth-wicket stand 64 from the last six overs with Matt Mason, who scored just one run.

Ovington debutants Ben Robinson (56) and James Harrod (29) got their side to 100-2 at drinks, needing 129 from the last 20 overs. Slow bowler Hall then returned his first ‘five-for’ in the top flight, removing the final batsman to end on 6-52 as Ovington were all out for 184.

Melbourne’s Scott Coupland removed last week’s centurion Leigh Adamson for a duck and went on to claim 6-33 as Burn were dismissed for 108, wicketkeeper Matt Beevers pouching five catches.

In reply, James Coupland stroked an unbeaten 55 to see Melbourne win in the 16th over.

Thixendale slid from 101-2 to 140 all out against South Cave & Brantingham, whose Anuj Bahl followed his 4-21 with 42 runs in an easy win which also featured an unbeaten 43 by Adam Lucy.

Kelfield opener Jamie Wheeler carried his bat with an unbeaten 74 against Clifton Alliance whose batsmen paced their run chase to perfection, winning with four balls to spare.

Wheldrake could only muster seven players for the fixture at Westow and slumped to a seven-wicket defeat, Mark Earle taking 4-28 as the visitors were bowled out for 81.

Stamford Bridge look like the team to beat in division two after crushing Malton & Old Malton by 10 wickets. Visitors Malton posted a respectable 170-9 with Chris Bingham making 62 but Bridge’s teenage openers Tom Lawson (78no) and Josh Moore (74no) dismantled the Malt bowling.

Thorpe Willoughby suffered their third consecutive heavy defeat after another poor batting display against Yapham and Bishopthorpe’s poor start continued by being bowled out for 76 by Hirst Courtney whose Adam Brinded returned figures of 8.5-5-10-5.

Stockton & Hopgrove, skippered by Dan Fairclough in the absence of the injured Richard Kerrison, successfully defended a modest 104 total against Ben Johnson, with loan player Matt Bradshaw (4-30) taking a hat-trick in the 20-run win. Steve Wragg took 4-23 for the printers whose Neil Drew hit a defiant 51 not out.

Experienced openers Allan Barton (52) and Simon Brown (110 ret) put on 174 for Clifton Alliance II’s first wicket in the win against Selby.

Burn II’s Vaughn Lindley (5-36) took his second five-wicket haul of the season as Dunnington’s young side closed on 153. At 132-3 Burn were cruising to victory until Ed Millington (5-39) span Dunnington to an unlikely 10-run win.

Liam Serginson hit a classy 82 not out as Pocklington eased to victory against Thorpe Willoughby II and Sessay outgunned Stamford Bridge II thanks to a 129-run second wicket partnership between Ian Watkinson (74no) and Tom Reid, who hit exactly 100.

Press Performance of the Week: Steve Drake (Askham Bryan) wins his second award of the season for his blistering 176 not out against Ovington.