Thirsk clinched the Pilmoor Evening Cricket League championship for the third successive season when they beat bottom-placed Easingwold with two games remaining.

At the top of the second division, Crayke hold a two-point advantage over Stillington, with Civil Service and Alne a distant joint third.

Relegation-haunted Easingwold batted first at Thirsk and made 80-8, Tom Cosgrove making 33 and Tommy Langstaff 20.

Tom Polkinghorne was the most effective Thirsk bowler with 2-16.

They replied with a rapid 81-1, Ryan McKendry making an unbeaten 64 off just 32 balls.

Acomb all but ended their relegation concerns with victory over Sessay.

Nick Thorne made 33 for Sessay, but his colleagues struggled against Christian Foster (4-6) and Dan Littlewood (2-8) and Sessay closed on 91-9.

George Brown, with 32, and Joe Dale (26) were the main contributors to Acomb’s reply, but Sessay fought hard and it wasn’t until deep into the last over that Acomb took the points at 92-3.

In the second division, leaders Crayke toppled Civil Service.

The Service batsmen were in good form as they posted 115-3, Richard Garside making 37, J Chisholm 23, and Will Phelps 32, while Jamie Perkins was Crayke’s best bowler with 2-28.

Perkins led Crayke’s reply with 50 retired and Simon Lewis supported with 20, but the innings slowed before Crayke reached a winning 116-3 with just two balls to spare. Alastair Raper was unbeaten on 35.

Stillington kept up their challenge when they overwhelmed Rowntrees. The hosts batted first and were shot out for 42, with Karl Simpson (4-13), Adrian Leckenby (2-6) and Gary Goodwin (2-6) doing the damage.

Stillington raced to 43-1 in 6.3 overs with Rob Steel 20 not out.

Huby took the points when they visited Sheriff Hutton.

The hosts batted first and made 109-6, Tom Woolsey (50 ret) leading the way.

Andrew Ball’s 2-20 was the best return for Huby.

The visitors replied with 110-5, Ben Aked (44) and Tom Piercy (24) playing the important innings to leave David Hull’s 2-5 to go unrewarded.