A fine innings by wicket-keeper Mike Burdett failed to prevent the Huddersfield League gaining a narrow 12-run victory over the Hunters York Senior League in a high-scoring Costcutter Yorkshire Senior Leagues Knockout tie at Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Skipper Brendon Nash produced a match-winning all-round performance which just tipped the scales in his side's favour as he shared an opening stand of 98 with his club colleague Darren Shadford and then held a stunning return catch when Burdett was threatening to take York to victory.

The Delph & Dobcross pairing put on 98 for the Huddersfield first wicket before the introduction of Carlton Towers' spinner Chris Pitts brought immediate results when he caught and bowled Nash for 68 off his second delivery.

A further wicket in the over disposed of Paul Winrow for a duck.

The 19-year-old Pitts then removed Shadford for 58 as he took an impressive 3-30 in his ten overs.

Elland's Lee Baxter made 50 before becoming the first of four victims for Andy Tute, whose 4-29 made sure the Huddersfield tail did not wag and held the visitors to 235-9.

The York League made a poor start as they slipped to 56-4 but then they enjoyed a revival as the Woodhouse Grange pairing of Nick Hadfield and Burdett added 104 for the fifth wicket.

The partnership ended when Hadfield was caught for 39 but Paul Skilbeck (24) supported Burdett who seemed to be taking his side to victory as he hit an impressive 86.

Nash then intervened to hold a stunning return catch and, in the quest for seven runs an over, York slipped from 192-6 to 223 all out in the final over to eventually lose by 12 runs.

Drakes Huddersfield League

B Nash c & b Pitts 68; D Shadford b Pitts 58; P Winrow c Copeland b Pitts 0; L Baxter c Piercy b Tute 50; S Whitwam b Marwood 16; S Kelly st Burdett b Tute 9; G Jones c Simpson b Tute 2; J Thornton run out 3; G Coleman st Burdett b Tute 12; A Allsop not out 3; A Robinson not out 2; extras 12; Total 235-9.

Bowling: B Petty 10-2-38-0; P Skilbeck 10-0-48-0; P Redshaw 4-0-34-0; C Pitts 10-1-30-3; J Marwood 10-0-54-1; A Tute 6-0-29-4.

Hunters York & District Senior League

M Piercy c Jones b Allsop 11; J Marwood c Jones b Nash 18; D Simpson c Thornton b Allsop 3; A Tute c Shadford b Robinson 4; N Hadfield c Baxter b Whitwam 39; M Burdett c & b Nash 86; P Skilbeck c Thornton b Coleman 24; D Copeland b Whitwam 1; P Redshaw c Baxter b Coleman 6; C Pitts not out 7; B Petty run out 5; extras 19 Total 223 all out.

Bowling: A Robinson 5-0-24-1; A Allsop 8-4-26-2; P Winrow 8-0-30-0; B Nash 10-0-46-2; G Coleman 7.4-1-41-2; J Thornton 4-0-22-0; S Whitwam 7-0-26-2.

Huddersfield League won by 12 runs.

Updated: 11:29 Monday, June 07, 2004