DIVISION three in the Horwath Pulleyn-Heselton York Vale Cricket League will go down to the wire.

The division has been tight all season as long-time leaders Burton Salmon have only a ten-point cushion over rivals Stillingfleet after losing a thriller to fellow promotion hopefuls Wistow.

Salmon batted first and got off to a reasonable start but only Adrian Davies (35) continued the scoring to earn the home side a respectable score of 151-9. Mark Alford was the best Wistow bowler with 6-53.

Max Driscoll then ripped into the Wistow top order with 5-56 and gained good support from his father Colin. Paul Elliott however remained at the crease and steered his side towards victory with 72. The last over approached and Wistow needed seven runs whch they achieved when Alan Goodall produced a boundary from the last delivery to credit a 21-point swing to Wistow.

Second-placed Stillingfleet enjoyed a slender victory at York University Staff, who posted 179-5, Ashley Pike top-scoring with 71. Dave Rowsby then followed up his two wickets by stroking 77 as 'Fleet went from 137-1 to 184-8 to gain a precious win.

The battle of the bottom two resulted in a hard-earned win for Woodhouse Grange. Mike Storey's efforts nearly paid off, but his 41no in Huntington's 123-9 and 2-62 were in vain as Ian Henderson's 73no took Woodhouse home by eight wickets.

Askham Bryan YPO amassed 206-4 against Clifton Alliance with veteran Willie Knight cracking another 50. Paul Thorpe (71) kept Clifton in the hunt but as he was run out the side ran out off time, losing by 43 runs.

Division four will be decided at Drax this weekend as the leaders lost to Burn. Drax managed 150 all out as their batsmen made a start but got no further. The Burn openers then made 50 each on the way to a six-wicket win, Paul Smith taking all the wickets to fall.

York, the second placed side, eclipsed Melbourne by ten wickets to set up the decider between themselves and Drax.

Acomb could still gain promotion if things go their way after bowling Ovington out for a meagre 39, skipper Adrian Harris taking 4-8. Acomb lost four wickets on their way to 43.

Bishopthorpe's Bill Wilson and Phil Revell put on 95 for the first wicket against Heworth and their side closed on 194-6. Tight swing bowling then allowed an easy win as Heworth could only muster a score of 119-6.

Selby scored 170-7 at Pocklington with opener Mel Neary scoring 49 as Mike Wellock returned figures of 3-16.

Pocklington's resistance faded after opener Jason Latham (49) fell and they came up 18 runs shy.

Updated: 12:50 Thursday, September 04, 2003