LITTLE was more than enough to signal a sensational finale to the Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior League premier division game at Easingwold.

The hosts and reigning champions defeated title-chasing rivals Dunnington by one wicket after some tremendous hitting by Paul Little saw them score 48 runs off a mere 17 balls to win by one wicket.

The big-hitting was not restricted to Little. Dunnington's Paul Miles earlier showed his power by cracking five sixes in a 25-ball knock which earned him an unbeaten 55.

Masood Asim Butt with 57 and Harwood Williams, who fell three runs short of a deserved century, had rescued Dunnington following the loss of two early wickets to post a challenging 246-5 target.

Easingwold's chase prospered as Jonathon Marwood made 42, Andy Dawson 37, Paul Skilbeck 38 and Paul Redshaw 24 but, at 199-7 with a mere four overs to go the majority of the large crowd were putting their cash on a draw.

The 47th over then proved to be a sensation as Little struck the first delivery for a six and then followed by stroking the final three deliveries to the fence as the target fell to 25.

Collis King's next over tipped the scales back to Dunnington as he took two wickets in as many runs.

With the last pair at the crease, the target was now 21 off 12 balls. Little was up to the task. He deposited the first two deliveries out the ground and hit the third for four. A dot ball was followed by a winning six with seven balls spare.

Malton & Old Malton gained their first win of the season when they thrashed Ryedale neighbours Pickering by nine wickets.

Aussie Brett Warren's 89 not out more than doubled his season's previous best, while Darren Wyrill made an unbeaten 46.

Earlier Matt Yates had taken 5-55 as Pickering set a target of 157-9 with Colin Frank making 64 and Steve King 32.

Woodhouse Grange eased their relegation worries when they had an enormous win at Acomb after dismissing the home side for one of the lowest premier totals of the season.

The Acomb track held no fears for Grange's Nick Hadfield, whose 109 was not only his third century of the season but his second against Acomb. He made 118no when the sides met in April.

Simon Dwyer also got into the act when he made 62 and Grange were able to reach 235-6 despite Andy Sykes' 3-43.

Acomb's reply was an unmitigated disaster as they caved in for only 64 in 30 overs. Their destroyers were Richard Burdett with 3-10, Tom Quinn 3-19 and Andrew Bilton, who chipped in with 2-15.

Clifton Alliance increased their lead to 39 points as the championship race entered the second half of the season when they coasted to a nine-wicket victory over lowly Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Bridge skipper Steve Crowder top-scored for his side with 64, but the only other worthwhile contribution was that of 16-year-old opener Adam Fisher who weathered an early order collapse to make 31.

Spinner Alex Renton recorded his best premier division figures of 5-33, while Francis Hawthorne also proved to a prickly customer as he captured 4-38.

Bridge's all out total of 160 was then easily passed as Dave Taylor made 74no and Chris Malthouse 39no. Leading scorer Danny Harris was the only casualty, caught by wicket-keeper Fisher for 42.

Osbaldwick's plight worsened at the foot of the table when Beverley maintained their title challenge with a nine-wicket win to nudge them into third place.

Only Rich Carew, who made 44, of the home batsmen made a significant mark as Barry Sayer took 3-38, Jim Hodgson 3-33 and Peter Parnaby 4-33 to dismiss Osbaldwick for 156.

Hodgson then hit an unbeaten 88 as, after losing his opening partner Paul Groves for 29 at 79, he and Jamie Mitchell, who made 37no, steered Beverley home.

It was Till time again for Sessay who went second with a 95-run victory at Heworth.

Matthew Till's second century saw him increase his season's best to 114 and, with Chris Till making 47 and Tom Kay 26, Sessay reached 249-7.

Matt Till continued to torment the hosts. He took 3-30 to help dismiss Heworth for 154 with Ian Wilson's 56 being the only positive note for the Elm Park Way side.

Updated: 09:13 Tuesday, July 12, 2005