Second division Fulfordgate provided the major shock of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton Cup second round by overturning first division high-fliers Norwich Union.

Batting first 'Gate were in trouble at 8-3 before the Pepper boys added a stand of 91, Keith Pepper hitting 55 and Mal 35. However, tight bowling from Simon Cook and Ian Butler kept the home attack in check as Fulfordgate finished on 133-7.

Victory should have been easy for the accomplished Union batting ranks but the home bowling quartet had other ideas. No batsman had an answer to the economic attack as the destiny of the match fell to the last over - four runs required, one wicket needed. Host bowler Ray Dodd held his nerve bowling Holmes with the fifth delivery.

Holders Stockton and Hopgrove had an easier passage to the semis when defeating North Duffield. After putting Duffield into bat, Hopgrove's opening bowlers kept it tight with only Lee Wild offering resistance. James Wigby took over command by removing the middle order with 4-11 from ten overs to leave North Duffield on 85-9.

Wild returned with the ball to dispose of the Kerrison opening partnership, but a flashing 44 from Peter Fairclough ensured a safe passage to the last four for Stockton.

Away to second division Hirst, Burn cruised along to 207-8 with Andy Watson cracking 64 backed by Glenn Hunter's 49. Only the introduction of Phil Alford (3-21) kept the score down.

In reply Hirst openers, Duncan Hedley and Alford, put on 72, both scoring 47 apiece before the spin wiles of Ashley Abbott curtailed their innings at 132.

In the remaining quarter-final, Askham Bryan YPO batted first at home to Bishopthorpe with Dean Palmer amassing 104no out of their 163-2 total.

After losing a couple of quick wickets, Bishopthorpe produced some late hitting but they ran out of over time nine runs adrift of the target.

Tollerton Outlaws toppled Thixendale by 136 runs in the first round of the Mitchell Cup, Tony Raper starring with an unbeaten half-century and five wickets.

At Copmanthorpe, Kelfield's Andy Atkinson bagged six wickets in the hosts' total of 108, Phil Smith grabbing the other four as Cop's last nine wickets fell for 49.

Kelfield's reply started well enough with danger-man Phil Smith excelling. But when he went for 57 to make it 68-3 Copmanthorpe got a whiff of success, which they achieved with the visitors collapsing to 94 all out.

In the second round of the Scothern Construction Cup, Askham Bryan YPO batted first at Bishopthorpe and were grateful to Will Knight for his match-winning 64 out of the visitors' 130-9 total.

Mick Baines (45) and Ian Henderson (84) added 98 for Woodhouse Grange's second-wicket against Wheldrake. Then the evergreen Doug Bartle took 4-16 to leave Wheldrake on 111-9 - 57 runs adrift.

Stillingfleet's Chris Walker smashed 105no in his side's 236-6 against Melbourne, who had little answer to Chris Woodfine as they teetered to 86 all out.

York Uni Staff were put to the sword by Malton and Old Malton in the Prendergast Memorial Cup first round.

Malton totalled a daunting 204-5, Chris Smith top-scoring with 80 before the Staff slumped to 36-9. Mark Dushieko spared Staff's total blushes as his sturdy 35 took them to 69 all out.

Updated: 10:44 Thursday, June 12, 2003