TWO batsmen made Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior Cricket League history in the same match on Saturday.

Dunnington's Simon Kellett and Beverley's Jamie Mitchell both made centuries, the first time in the league two opposing batsmen have twice scored hundreds in matches against the same opponents.

When the premier division teams met in May, both these batsmen made 106 not out. On Saturday when the sides played each other again, Mitchell scored an unbeaten 110 and Kellett responded with 121 not out.

With Richard Todd making 46 in support of Mitchell, Beverley's total of 233-7 was the highest against Dunnington in the season, despite Kirk Powell's 3-45.

However, this total soon proved to be inadequate as Kellett and Hamid Khan posted an opening stand of 219, which had settled the issue by the time Peter Parnaby had Khan caught by Barry Sayer for 94, leaving Collis King time to score five as Dunnington romped to a nine-wicket win.

Acomb are 30 points adrift of the leaders after losing at Sessay despite a 24-over spell by skipper Dave Sykes who took 4-43.

Leon Sacks (36) was the only Acomb batsman to make runs as Steve Frare's 4-30 had his side all out for 127. Sykes then put in a sterling effort but Chris Till made 37 before Richard Till steered his side to a four wicket win with an unbeaten 21.

After a slow start to the season, Easingwold have powered into third place following their convincing win over Clifton Alliance.

Clifton were able to post a reasonable target as Luke Wells hit 58, Adam Crouch 29 and John Hunter 27 in a total of 170.

Dan Copeland took 5-51 while Paul Redshaw took 3-40. In form skipper Martin Piercy then made 57 and Jonathon Marwood 50 before Tom Piercy's unbeaten 36 steered Easingwold to an eight wicket win.

On a day when all six premier division games produced outright winners, Woodhouse Grange's trouncing of fourth-placed Pickering was one of the best.

Craig Aconley bowled well for the visitors to take 5-47 but Steve Burdett, with 59, and Tom Quinn (28) helped the Grange reach 167-8.

Pickering then suffered an abysmal reply and seemed to be heading for one of the lowest totals in premier league records as Tom Quinn took 4-23 and his brother Ashley 5-30.

The Pikes lost their first nine wickets for only 30 runs before a last wicket stand of 29 enabled them to gain a modicum of respect before being all out for 59.

Two struggling sides met at Carlton Towers, where Osbaldwick's seven-wicket victory has left the home side with much to do if they are to avoid an immediate return to division one.

Carlton's batsmen failed badly as Damian Aston took 3-17, Chris Oldfield 3-22 and Colin Sanctuary 4-21 and their paltry 75 was overtaken for the loss of three wickets by the visitors, who have now moved out of the bottom two.

Thirsk's decline continued with a heavy defeat at Heworth. The northerners have now dropped to 11th place.

Heworth made the day's highest total in the division as half centuries by Matt Atkinson (53), Dave Simpson (75) and Mike Brook (58 not out) saw them to 235-8 despite a season's best 5-29 from Andrew Chandler.

When Thirsk replied, only Aussie Gary Keelson (41), made a mark as Mohammed Fayyaz (4-51) combined with stalwart Trevor Walton (3-26) to oust the visitors for 142.

Updated: 09:46 Monday, July 28, 2003