THE Hunters Estate Agent York and District Senior League Under 21-side had a three-wicket victory over the Pontefract League at Ackworth.

They will meet the winners of the game between the Central Yorkshire and Doncaster Leagues in the next round on June 15.

Batting first, Pontefract made steady progress as they moved to 37-1 in 15 overs but Sheriff Hutton Bridge left-arm spinner Dan Snowball had opener Andy O'Grady caught by wicketkeeper Nick Biggs.

Snowball quickly grabbed two more victims and Peter Richardson also had the assistance of Hull Zingari's Biggs to capture the home side's fourth wicket at 49. A Biggs stumping aided Snowball to gain further success as half the side were out for 50 but York continued to spill chances with Gary Proudley the main beneficiary before he was well caught by Richard Bowling for 32 to give Snowball his fifth wicket at a cost of 19.

An umpiring miscalculation deprived the spinner of his tenth over but skipper Chris Oldfield (Osbaldwick) returned to gain his second wicket before the innings was ended at 88 when Biggs snapped up his sixth victim.

York also lost an early wicket but seemed to be coasting as Nick Harrison (Sessay) and Hull Zingari's Anthony Knowles quickly progressed to 40. However, they were both removed by Andy Clarke and York slipped to 43-3.

Hensall's Andy Fairburn then plucked out the middle order batting with a fine seven-over spell which earned him 3-10 and the York side were staring at defeat at 60-7. Chris Pitts (Carlton Towers) then showed coolness and class under pressure to compile an unbeaten 21 and he and Dan Snowball steered their side to victory with an unbroken partnership of 29.

Pontefract League: A O'Grady c Biggs b Snowball 19, M Wilson b Oldfield 2, G Proudley c Bowling b Snowball 32, C Speed b Snowball 1, A Clarke c Biggs b Snowball 3, D Blacker c Biggs b Richardson 0, A Beck st Biggs b Snowball 0, A Fairburn run out 13, S Kemp c Biggs b Oldfield 4, D Robinson no 6, M.Webster c Biggs b Pitts 1. Extras 7 Total 88 all out

Bowling: J Bryan 6-2-18-0, C Oldfield 10-2-19-2, P Richardson 10-2-23-1, D Snowball 9-3-19-5, C Pitts 3.2-0-6-1

Hunters Estate Agent York and District Senior League: N Harrison b Clarke 29, J.Turnbull c Proudley b Clarke 1, A Knowles lbw Clarke 9, R Bowling b Webster 3, G Blackburn b Fairbairn 1, C Pitts no 21 J Bryan c Proudley b Fairbairn 10, Oldfield b Fairbairn 0, D Snowball no 6, Extras Total: 89-7

Bowling: A Clarke 8.4-3-21-3, D Robinson 4-1-18-0, S Kemp 3-0-13-0, A Fairbairn 7-3-10-3, M Webster 8-1-21-1

Updated: 11:21 Tuesday, May 20, 2003