Dunnington were involved in yet another action-packed finale when they gained a 72-run victory over Beverley in a dramatic last-over in the Hunters York and District Senior League premier division.

Just a week after taking the last four Acomb wickets in the final over, Dunnington snatched another last-ball win by grabbing the final three wickets in the last over. Century-maker Collis King was their hero when he took the final wicket off the last ball of the allotted 50 overs.

Hamid Khan laid a good base for the hosts when he made 41, his start being then built on by King, who made exactly 100, and Dave Greenlay, whose 57 helped to counter Simon Roe's 4-89 and take the champions to 231-7.

When Beverley batted, Neil Stephenson made 41 before he fell in bizarre fashion when his blade parted company with its handle and almost decapitated mid-off. Unfortunately for Stephenson the ball travelled to King's safe hands in the slips.

Team-mates Andy Burton (27) and Simon Roe (30) seemed to have taken Beverley to safety, despite the efforts of Ajaz Akhtar, who took 4-66, and their side entered the final over with three wickets intact. However, a run-out and two wickets to King, ensured their dismissal for 159.

With Dunnington taking the full 30 points, Easingwold's lead was marginally reduced to 47 points when they gained 29 points at Clifton Alliance.

Clifton were indebted to the Hunter brothers with John hitting 89 and Richard 39 as they reached 198-9. Jason Seargeant's 3-50 was the best return for the leaders, who then eased to a winning 203-4 through Martin Robinson (63), Jonathon Marwood (58) and Tom Piercy, who made 30no.

Heworth boosted their survival hopes with a sound four-wicket home win at the expense of Sheriff Hutton Bridge who were dismissed for 165 by South African Darius Slabbert, who took 4-39, and Mark Bell, whose spinners earned him 4-60. Steve Crowder was the top Bridge batter with 59, while skipper Paul Oldfield chipped in with 28. He then followed with 3-72 in a prolonged spell but the combined talents of Graham Hogben (29), Slabbert (56), Steve Simpson (25) and Richard Winterbottom (27no) saw Heworth to victory.

Thirsk gained an honourable draw at Acomb but saw their deficit at the foot of the table increase to 29 points following Heworth's win.

The league's two leading bowlers each took five wickets with Acomb's Dave Sykes' 5-48 having the edge on the 5-77 recorded by Thirsk's Barry Petty.

Chris Simpson's 95 was the decisive innings for Acomb who made 171-9 as Neil Laidlaw supported Petty with 3-32. Teenager Sean Holmes then defied the Acomb bowlers to make an unbeaten 55 which took Thirsk to a draw at 129-8.

Sessay had an important victory over Pickering. Good contributions from John Flintoff (35) and Chris Till (56) were expanded by Nick Harrison, who hit an unbeaten 63 as Sessay made 201-5 in the reduced 47-over innings.

Pickering then struggled as Mick Polson took 3-25 and Steve Langstaff 3-40 but Mark Shepherd, with 47, held Sessay at bay before two wickets in the final over by Darren Atkinson had Pickering all out for 123.

York slipped nearer the relegation area when they suffered a heavy home defeat at the hands of Woodhouse Grange. John McGrady made 36 and Mike Mortimer 24 for the hosts but Paul Grewer took 5-40 and had great support from young spinner Andrew Bilton, who claimed 4-31 as the total only reached 114. Nick Hadfield with 51no and Kamran Sajid 50no then made easy work of overcoming the loss of an early wicket to clinch a nine-wicket victory.

Updated: 10:13 Monday, July 12, 2004