BURYTHORPE extended their lead at the top of the first division of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League after coming back from the dead to beat closest rivals Bishopthorpe.

The Bishops made 125-6 with Jason Whitworth contributing 55, Andrew Milner bowling throughout the remaining 3-43.

Burythorpe collapsed to 69-9 with bowlers Derek Gardiner and Mike Brown on top form.

But last man Mark Fairweather joined Derryk Milburn and in seven overs they hit the 57 runs needed winning the game with one ball to go.

Burn moved into second place after another thrilling finish against Aldby Park.

Howard Robinson scored a half century for Park before retiring hurt and 23 from Alan Day helped their side to 128-7.

Day was in superb form with the ball taking 7-36 as Burn faltered. David Prime and Dave Bramley helped to keep them in the game but it was another last wicket pair, Ashley Abbott and Dave Queenan who scampered the last two runs from an inside edge off the last ball to see them home.

Half centuries for Simon Morgan and P Holmes provided the bulk of CGU'a total of 126-7 against York, Graham MacFall and Nigel Smith both taking three wickets.

P Taylor reached 50 as York paced their innings well, the winning runs coming in the 39th over, Morgan and Mike Clarke also with three wickets each.

Mal Caddie showed his years of experience as he held the Heworth innings together against Stockton and Hopgrove before being out for 71 with two balls of the innings to go. Jamie Ulliott and Martin Lancelot pushed up the scoring rate to almost five an over, while Richard Kerrison the pick of the Stockton attack with 5-43.

Andy Bonarius and Richard Winterburn were among the wickets as Stockton struggled with only David Kerrison looking comfortably and from a promising position of 63-3 they collapsed to 90 all out.

Drax's five man attack proved too strong for Thorpe Willoughby who struggled to 87-9 with Brian Knight picking up four wickets. Gary Slaywe and Keith Powell had no such problems with an opening partnership of 61 as Drax coasted to an eight wicket win.