STAMFORD Bridge moved to the head of division two when they gained a rapid victory at Dringhouses.

The home side were hustled out for a mere 83 as Matt Fairweather took 3-26 and Graham Tipping 3-8. Stuart Boyle then made 38no and, with Peter Milner adding 31, Bridge won by eight wickets.

Hemingbrough hit the highest total of the day when they reached 260-3 before declaring after 40 overs but then met with stern defence from lowly Castleford who batted through 50 overs to gain a draw at 156-6.

Imran Malik again gave a quality performance as he made an unbeaten 102 for Hemingbrough while John Waterhouse with 63 and Maqsood Akbar 46 also feasted at the run table. The home side's hopes of victory were then thwarted by Simon Parker making 72 and Simon Tucker 36.

Crayke were another side to exercise the declaration option despite their game against Harrogate suffering a weather reduction to 41 overs.

Their batsmen were in a boisterous mood with openers Graeme Dawson (69) and Paul Hutchinson (83) putting on 116 for the first wicket. Their good work was continued by Andy Dawson (26) and Mark Hutchinson (26) as the villagers moved to 228-6 before declaring after 38 overs.

Bottom-placed Harrogate then fared badly as they were shot out for 106 in just 35 of their 45 overs. Alex Crystal offered a measure of resistance with 32 but the bowlers controlled events with Richard Wentworth taking 3-33, Dave Allitt 4-25 and Paul Hutchinson 3-10.

Updated: 10:13 Monday, July 12, 2004