FIRST division leaders Malton and Old Malton suffered their first defeat of the season when they were bowled out for 112 at Duncombe Park after a remarkable display by 62-year-old Edwin Kirby.

He returned to the side after a 15-year retirement to capture 7-28. Park had earlier made 179 with ex-Pickering man Kevin Wilson top-scoring with 80 and Adam Rayner (30) and Richard Simpson (38) also figuring in the run charts.

Malton's Aussie Ryan Bulger became the first bowler in the league to reach 50 wickets as he took his tally to 54 with 5-67, while fellow spinner Matt Yates had 3-16. The teams's third spinner Danny Foxton then figured with the bat as he made 31 when Malton replied but Kirby's headline-grabbing performance had the leaders falling to a 67-run defeat.

Second placed Osbaldwick missed an opportunity to reduce the gap when they also suffered a surprise defeat as Tadcaster Magnet successfully chased a home score of 214-8.

Aussie Glen Jones hit 52 while Mark Thompson 33 and Ian Wilson 31 also made positive contributions to a full batting point score. Paul Downey took 4-89 for Magnet and Greg Strydom 3-48.

Strydom then masterminded his side's successful response by hitting 98. Help came from Paul Clark (46) and Kevin Wakefield, who was unbeaten with 25, when a three-wicket win was clinched despite a 3-48 return from Shaun White.

Neil Jackson was another skipper to play an important innings as he rattled up an unbeaten 106 in a big unbroken stand with Kevin Hinch (51no).

With Rod Hinch having earlier made 47 Pocklington reached an impressive 238-3 which proved to be way out of reach for home side Ripon, who managed to salvage a draw at 143-9. Dave Bickell, with 39, was the mainstay of the response with Mike Newhouse showing the best bowling figures of 3-23.

Updated: 10:13 Monday, July 12, 2004