Acomb continue to set the pace in the premier division of the Hunters The Estate Agent York and District Senior Cricket League although their lead was cut back to 14 points when they were denied victory at Thirsk.

Good knocks by Andy Tute (78) and Chris Simpson (70) saw Acomb reached 201-5. Dave Sykes then followed with 3-68 but neither he nor his fellow bowlers could dislodge Dean Bramley, whose unbeaten 64 saw Thirsk to safety at 156-4.

Runs flowed at Norwood Park where 471 runs were scored as home side Beverley Town gained a fine victory over Heworth.

Matthew Atkinson hit 84 and Mark Lynch chipped in with an unbeaten 56. Three Beverley players emerged with credit with Barry Sayer claiming 3-75 and Mike Kilgannon 4-71 while wicketkeeper Richard Taylor pouched three catches.

After the interval, the home batsmen were in total control with only one wicket falling after an opening stand of 54. Ali Brumfield then made 84no and Jamie Mitchell a super unbeaten 112 as they combined in an unbroken stand of 182 to take the home side to a nine-wicket victory.

A much improved performance saw Clifton Alliance gain the better of a draw over an Osbaldwick side who remain in search of their first win of the season. Luke Wells (63) and Andy Crouch (59) combined to add 121 for the Clifton second wicket then Richard Musgrave made 48 to see his side to full batting points. Damon Aston performed heroics for Osbaldwick as he took 7-101 in a prolonged spell.

In the early part of the innings, Steve Jackson and Mark Thompson each made 25 and Dave Cooper 52 to help Osbaldwick reach 122-2. John Hunter (3-38) and Francis Hawthorne (3-21) then grabbed five wickets for just seven runs to have the visitors reeling at 129-7. But Steve Young's captain's innings of 35 provided a safety net as Osbaldwick reached a draw at 185-8.

Dunnington paceman Kirk Powell ripped through the Pickering line-up as he captured 7-45. He had excellent support from leading wicketkeeper Paul Miles, who held five catches and made one stumping to equal the premier division record of six victims in a match currently held by Pickering's Chris Nicholls and John Harper of Thirsk.

Pickering's modest total of 100 was surpassed in just 18 overs as Hamid Khan hit 57no and Simon Kellett 38no to take Dunnington to a ten-wicket win.

At Sessay, home batsmen Darren Atkinson (74no) and Scott Pierce (34) helped the hosts post a total of 183-5 against neighbouring Easingwold. Easingwold's successful response hinged on Paul Skilbeck's 83 and 43 from Tom Piercy. Steve Langstaff took 3-51 but the visitors earned a comfortable win by five wickets.

It was a day for bowlers at Woodhouse Grange where the home side survived a collapse to ease to a one-wicket win over bottom placed Carlton Towers.

Carlton's batsmen tottered as Ashley Quinn took 5-39 and Kamran Sajid 4-35 and had to thank Mark Graves (35) and Jamie Pocklington (29) for their modest total of 136.

Nick Hadfield put the Woodhouse innings on a sound footing with 50 but his side slumped from 75-1 to 111-8 as Kevin Waites took 5-17 and Chris Pitts 3-48. Sajid made 27 valuable runs. The final plaudits went to Tom Quinn, whose unbeaten 22 saw Woodhouse to victory at 137-9.

Updated: 09:47 Monday, June 23, 2003