EASINGWOLD have opened up a 64-point lead in the Hunters The Estate Agent York and District Senior League premier division after beating York in a high scoring 30 overs game on yet another raid affected day.

Former Easingwold player James Pringle hit a sparkling seasonal best of 89 not out and Dave De Sylva made 68 as York reached 184-5. Gavin Rees took 4-32.

Easingwold, chasing their first league title since 2000, were unfazed by their task with Martin Robinson setting the path with 44 and good support coming from Jonathon Marwood 24 and Paul Skilbeck.

Nevertheless, Easingwold found themselves needing to score at eight an over for the last ten overs to meet their target but were then elevated by a typical innings by Dan Copeland who cracked five sixes in an unbeaten 47 as he and Tom Piercy 23no saw the leaders home with eight balls to spare.

Nearest rivals Dunnington suffered frustration when their game at Pickering was abandoned after just four overs while two other contenders, Woodhouse Grange and Clifton Alliance were involved in another aborted affair which ended after seven overs.

The bottom two sides met at Thirsk where Heworth inflicted a four-wicket win on the home side who have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation. They are 32 points adrift at the foot of the table.

In a 33-over game Thirsk were only able to make 108-9 as Mark Bell 4-37 and Darius Slabbert 3-23 took control. Only teenager John Cook, who made 34, figured with the bat.

Barry Petty then did his utmost to rescue the situation as he claimed his fifth five wicket haul of the season with his 5- 28 taking him into the leading wicket taker position with 37 wickets.

Heworth were able to record an important victory as Dave Simpson made 27 and Slabbert 29no.

Sessay's batsmen made light of the damp conditions at Beverley where they hit 212-5 in a game which was reduced to 48 overs.

Mick Polson and Matt Till each made 40 before Nick Harrison iced the cake with an unbeaten 53 which countered the efforts of Peter Parnaby who took 3-14. Beverley were never in with a chance of achieving the required run rate and closed at 122-7 as Polson took 3-38 and Steve Langstaff 2-43. Neil Stephenson with 30 and Jamie Mitchell 31 provided the backbone in Beverley's innings.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge's home game with Acomb was reduced to the minimum allowable overs of 30 per side and started dismally for the hosts when they lost a wicket off the first delivery of the match.

Tight bowling by Dave Sykes, whose 15 overs earned him 2-28 kept the home side under control with only Ian Clish (29) being able to break the shackles until a brisk 15 by 16-year-old David Coverdale earned a batting point at 110-9. Andy Sykes 2-43 and Andy Tute 2-34 gave good support to the Acomb skipper.

Acomb's opening pair both benefited from spilled chances as they moved to 74 before wicketkeeper Dave Gilbertson relinquished the pads to assume his bowling role and had immediate success when he had Scott Nicholls stumped by his replacement Adam Fisher for 28. Gilbertson went on to take 3-17 in five overs but Chris Simpson's unbeaten 67 ensured a seven-wicket win with two overs to spare.

Updated: 08:54 Monday, July 19, 2004