DRAX openers Keith Powell and Luke Edwards almost rewrote the HPH York Vale Cricket League record books after taking North Duffield’s attack apart.

Their partnership of 249 fell just ten runs short of the 259 Westow brothers Mark and Neil Earle posted against University of York Staff two years ago.

Powell lashed 132 which included five sixes and 18 fours, his century coming off 84 balls, while Edwards remained unbeaten on 114, reaching his ton in 122 deliveries. Their efforts saw Drax total 272, but stubborn Duffield denied them maximum points by closing on 131-8 in their division one match.

Ricky Noble took 6-55 as Hemingbrough restricted Clifton Alliance to 179-9 and eased to a seven-wicket win as new signing Grant Walsh (71no) and Matthew Milburn (78) put on 146.

Barmby Moor beat British Sugar by eight wickets with Adrian Stancer’s unbeaten 63 leading the way for the champions.

Colin Markham had a fantastic match as Bishopthorpe edged out Burn in a last-over thriller.

Markham top-scored as Bishops made 171-8 then took 4-42 and a couple of catches as Burn went into the final over needing 12 to win. Burn needed six off the last delivery which Burn skipper Ashley Abbott hit for four.

The prolific Salman Syed’s 77 was the bedrock of University of York Staff’s winning 173-3 against Wheldrake.

In division two, Fulfordgate’s Alan Baldock make 89 against North Cave, who were never really in the hunt and lost by 26 runs.

A fourth-wicket partnership of 105 between Ben Taylor (66) and Ben Holtby (55) earned Westow victory against Kelfield after the Ryedale side were 48-3 chasing a target of 199.

Mark Grewer’s 5-45 earned Askham Bryan an eight-wicket win at Ovington while a partnership of 100 between Jamie Agnew (71) and Neil Drew (43) paved the way for Ben Johnson’s win against Acomb.

Copmanthorpe, who were indebted to Chris Groom’s unbeaten 91, edged out Heworth by six runs in a game which went down to the wire.

Thixendale’s good start in division three continued as Mike England took 5-25 in the seven-wicket win against Burton Salmon.

Rich Grimes (6-32) earned Stockton & Hopgrove victory against Melbourne, while Andy Rowley’s 5-25 was not enough for Hemingbrough II, who lost at Stillingfleet.

Gareth Townend (66) and Gareth Roberts (52no) set up Selby’s win against Hirst Courtney, whose skipper Tony Hinch hit 51.

Kevin Dent had a great day with an unbeaten 70, a personal best, and 4-37 to support Nick Myers’ 5-41 as Wheldrake II’s 162-5 proved beyond Pocklington in division four.

Teenager Ryan Partington’s unbeaten 64 led Copmanthorpe II to victory against Bishopthorpe II, whose Ben Smith (75) was one of the few batsmen to handle Liam Elliker (5-50).

Juniors Louis Sugden (65no) and Grant Hooghiemstra (44no) put on 124 to steer Goole to an easy win against Thorp Arch & Boston Spa.

Askham Bryan II’s Paul Thornton produced the season’s best bowling figures but still ended on the losing side against Thorpe Willoughby II in division five.

With bowlers restricted to a maximum of 15 overs this season, big wicket hauls are harder to come by but his 8-33 included seven wickets in his final five-over spell as Thorpe totalled 150, Nasir Shefta hitting 62. Askham’s batsmen couldn’t back up Thornton’s effort and were all out for 70.

Mike Charno blasted 63 off just 26 balls to speed York RI to a ten-wicket win against Tadcaster Magnet.


Performance of the week

Paul Thornton’s haul of 8-33 for Askham Bryan II included four wickets in an over against Thorpe Willoughby II in division five.