OSBALDWICK belied their lowly position when they produced their best Hunters the Estate Agent York and District Senior League division one performance of the season to beat Whitkirk by 123 runs.

A third-wicket stand of 86 between Matt Dunne (60) and Mike Raso (51) boosted Osbaldwick and skipper Andy Hall followed with 49 to help his side reach 217-9 despite home bowler Mark Murphy's 5-64.

Hall then bowled exceptionally well to capture 7-24 in 13.2 overs and held a fine catch in the gully to help Andy Exley claim 3-46. Only opener Craig Shipton made any runs for Whitkirk, making 42 out of an eventual total of 94 Thirsk relinquished top spot when their highly rated bowling attack was unable to penetrate the Pocklington line-up and had to suffer a frustrating draw which leaves them going into the final game one point behind arch rivals Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Former Bridge man Des Wyrill hit 79 to hoist his aggregate to 680 and Neil Laidlaw (41) provided support as Thirsk reached 238-9 despite the efforts of Richard Foster (3-85) and Adam Iyer (3-56). Ian Camwell then led Pocklington's rearguard action, making 54 as his team reached 124-6.

Compared with Thirsk, Sheriff Hutton Bridge had an altogether easier encounter at Duncombe Park where the home side could only field ten men. Simon Rivis made 27 but his team mates succumbed to the pace of Nick Scaling, who took 6-26. Ian Clish then made 29 as Bridge strolled to a six-wicket win.

York's overseas batsman Jason English took his tally beyond 1,100 when he scored 128 against Carlton Towers. He figured in a second-wicket stand of 150 with Mike Mortimer, who made 86. Once the partnership was broken. Ben Lamb, with 5-90 and Luke Townend (4-59) worked their way through the home batting order and dismissed York for 260 off the final available delivery to clinch five valuable bonus points.

That reward was doubled when Carlton made a determined effort to reach their target. Five batsmen got in on the act, with Ian Leech making 49, Paul Wright 25, Luke Townend 43, Jamie Pocklington 66 and Mark Holmes 26, but the York bowling duo of Tom Bartram (5-71) and Rob Harrison (3-42) eventually won the day when Carlton were dismissed for 238. Towers require 25 points from their final game to ensure divisional safety.