Clifton Alliance's hard-hitting batsmen surpassed themselves against Easingwold.

Clifton are renowned for making big scores, having topped 300 on at least three previous occasions, but their latest effort, a massive 341-5, was their highest and has been bettered only once before in the Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior Cricket League.

The premier division leaders took a further step towards lifting the Championship trophy for the first time since 1999 when they took 26 points from a draw at Easingwold.

The stage for the flow of runs was set by a 230-run opening partnership between Daniel Harris and Dave Taylor, who was eventually dismissed for 137. Australian Harris went on to reach an unbeaten 162 in the 50 overs.

Easingwold skipper Martin Piercy emerged from the session with a good deal of merit as his occasional off-spin earned him four wickets for 45 runs.

Despite losing both openers cheaply, Easingwold were never in fear of defeat.

Andrew Dawson (42) and Dan Copeland (63) laid the foundation for a solid reply before James Banks (25no) and Paul Skilbeck (39no) saw off the threat posed by James Postill (3-48) to see the 2004 champions to a draw at 231-6.

Second-placed Dunnington defeated Pickering by five wickets with only seven balls to spare, thanks to 80 from Hamed Khan.

Pickering's 184-7 was based on Mark Shepherd's 46, with support from Paul Witty (27) and Mark Aconley (25no), while Dave Greenlay returned to the Dunnington ranks after a lengthy absence to claim 3-68.

Charlie Marwood retaliated with 3-82, but Masood Asim Butt made 36 to help Khan see Dunnington to victory.

Sessay kept their hopes of grabbing the runners-up spot alive when they had by far the better of a draw at Acomb, whose last pair were at the wicket when the game ended.

Chris Till made 33 and John Flintoff 25, but Sessay were only able to post a total of 145-9 as Dave Sykes took 4-56 and Andy Tute 4-37.

Skipper Tute then followed with 30 while Scott Nicholls made 28, but Richard Till (3-32) and Matt Till (3-26) kept the stalwart Sessay family to the for as Acomb made 110-9.

Beverley Town are also still in touch with the leaders after recording a good home win over Woodhouse Grange.

Simon Dwyer produced one of his best knocks of the season as he hit 85 in Grange's 175-8, while Nick Hadfield made 26 as Simon Roe took 3-42. Beverley were then piloted to a four-wicket victory by Jamie Mitchell with 57 and Ollie Grantham with 37.

Osbaldwick renewed local rivalries when they travelled the mile-long trip to Heworth but fared badly as teenage Dan Walton took 5-29.

Only Paul Finnie with 48 and Rob Bispham with 32 made any notable contribution to a total of 102.

Heworth skipper Dave Simpson then made 31 while ex-Osbaldwick man Ian Wilson scored 28 not out to clinch a four-wicket win.

The two teams locked in a tense struggle to avoid joining Osbaldwick in the relegation zone met at Sheriff Hutton Bridge where Malton & Old Malton were opposed by a strange looking home side due to the Bridge having taken 14 players to Lord's for the National Village Cup Final.

The Bridge team included a 13-year-old player as well as a 65-year-old premier division debutant, while Malton were also missing the services of Danny Foxton, who was also included in the Bridge squad going to Lord's.

Malton opener Neil Johnson survived an early chance to go on to make 43. Darren Wyrill had reached 47 when he was run out by a piece of quick thinking by Vic Klays.

Aussie Brett Warren added 47 before the Malton skipper called a halt at 217-5, leaving the Bridge to negotiate 61 overs. This proved to be an impossible task despite a reasonable performance.

Vic Klays made 27 and skipper Geoff Schofield 33 but Steve Oldfield took 4-21 and Matt Yates 3-10 to have the home side all out for 91 in 36 overs.

Updated: 10:58 Monday, August 29, 2005