Easingwold's unbeaten run was ended emphatically at Pickering where the home side became one of four teams in the premier division to win by an eight-wicket margin.

Batting first in a game reduced to 38 overs by the weather, Easingwold encountered problems as Tony Evans claimed 5-58 to hold them to 166-9, despite a half century by Jonathon Marwood and 26 from fellow opener Martin Piercy.

Pickering lost two wickets for 43 but Colin Frank 75no and Chris Nicholls 51no then combined to add 124 runs to steer Pickering to a winning 167-2.

Richard Musgrave continued his rich seam of runs as he hit an unbeaten 83 to clinch an eight-wicket win at Sessay which lifted Clifton Alliance into second place.

Sessay reached 141-8 in the reduced 36 overs with Mick Polson making 49 and Chris Till 45, while Lorenzo Ingram claimed 4-27. After losing two partners, Musgrave found an effective ally in Dave Taylor who had made 25no when the target was reached.

A second-wicket stand of 127 between Richard Bowling who made 54 and Darius Slabbert who made 71 enabled Heworth to take full batting points at Dunnington when they made 205-7, despite Dave Kitching's 3-53.

In reply, Hamid Khan made 44, Collis King 40 and Harwood Williams 26 but the bowling pairing of Mark Bell 5-58 and South African Slabbert 3-22 had Dunnington hanging on for a draw at 178-9 with their last pair in action for the second successive week.

Beverley Town and Sheriff Hutton Bridge experienced a roller coaster of emotions as they fought out a thrilling high-scoring draw at Norwood Park.

Bridge skipper Paul Oldfield followed his century of the previous week with 88 while Peter Crowder with 49 and Nick Scaling 44no helped the visitors to 231-7. Simon Roe, with 3-90 and Barry Sayer 3-47 were the best of the home bowlers.

Beverley then launched a terrific reply which saw them just fail to force a win as they closed on 229-7. Batting plaudits for the home side were earned by Ali Brumfield 45, Oliver Grantham 66 and Graeme Taylor, who made 35.

A Thirsk side missing the services of skipper Barry Petty were no match for Woodhouse Grange who also won by eight wickets.

Thirsk were hustled out for 109 as Kamran Sajid took 5-22 and Steve Burdett 3-25 with only John Cook and Jim McKendrie, who both made 26, resisting. In reply, Jon Bean made 51 and Nick Hadfield 40.

The game at Clifton Park was another one to suffer a weather reduction with five overs per side being lost.

John Hamlyn made an unbeaten 61 for the hosts while Dave Sykes took 4-61 in a total of 156-7.

Richard Sykes then led Acomb's reply with an unbeaten 68 and, with Chris Simpson adding 47, Acomb came home by what proved to be the the rain-hit day's favourite margin of eight wickets.

Updated: 11:01 Monday, June 21, 2004