LEADERS Dunnington moved a step closer to the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League title following an eight-wicket triumph over Malton & Old Malton.
Dave Brent took 6-47 as the visitors reached 188-9 in the Bank Holiday Monday match, that total coming courtesy of Adam Spavey's 57 and Harrison Wood’s 30 not out.
Adam Sutcliffe (96) narrowly missed out on a century in the table-toppers' reply before an unbeaten 45 from George Drury sealed a fourth straight win.
Another victory against title rivals York II will see them crowned champions.
York completed a weekend double with a 94-run win over Easingwold at Clifton Park.
Richard Love (72) top scored for the second time in three matches since returning to the club and, with Harry Contreras contributing 60 and Iain Jarvis 35, the hosts reached an imposing 253-8.
Zak Wilson was the pick of the bowlers with 3-38.
The visitors struggled from the outset as Chris Burn (3-36) then Tom Forsdike (6-59) kept the innings under control, Eliott Oates (34) and Dan Copeland (38) the main contributors in a total of 159 all out.
With York II ineligible for promotion, Beverley Town are favourites to take the second promotion spot after they got the better of Studley Royal in rain-shortened game at Norwood Park.
Matt Coad took 6-48 but Bev were still able to reach 220-7 thanks to Harry Gamble’s 57, Ben Hatfield’s 41 and an unbeaten 63 from Andy Burton.
Anthony Mackle (46) headed the reply and, with support from Coad (35) and Rob Nicholson (30), took the game to a thrilling conclusion. However, rain shortened the visitors’ innings by a couple of overs and this might have made all the difference to the outcome - a final score of 208-9 tantalizingly close to victory for both sides.
Driffield Town’s defeat to Folkton & Flixton condemned them to the drop.
F&F's innings was rescued by a stand of 123 for the seventh wicket between Harry Walmsley (80no) and Jake Hatton (45no) and their final total of 225-6 set up an intriguing chase.
Despite the loss of early wickets, Kevin Woodcock (49) and Ben Lawrence (41) kept the game alive but Jamie Nesfield’s (3-48) three wickets proved crucial as the hosts were bowled out for 200.
Bolton Percy still have it all to do to escape relegation but gave themselves hope by beating visitors Pickering - one the sides they hope will replace them in the bottom two.
A fighting half-century from Colin Frank (50) gave Pickering something to bowl at in tricky conditions, the visitors being bowled out 143 with Tom Atkinson (3-23) and Matthew Riley (3-34) in the wickets.
The hosts found the going equally difficult, losing seven wickets in the chase, three to Dave Greenlay (3-18), but Ed Noble (45) and Jacob Green (50no) kept their season alive.
Whitkirk came out on top against Hull & Zingari but were denied maximum points by the home side's last-wicket pair as they closed on 179-9 in reply to 234-8.
Simon Webb (57) made a sixth half-century of the season for Whitkirk and his score was matched by Jack Wood but three wickets from James Anson (3-47) helped prevent others from building on the pair’s efforts.
Jack Storey (55) likewise hit a sixth fifty of term for the hosts and Tom Appleyard made 45 before falling to Webb (3-19) who, alongside Alex Gomerson (3-44), kept the visitors in the ascendancy though neither was able to capture the crucial 10th wicket.
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