It was charity day in the Howarth Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League and the batsmen didn't let Macmillan Cancer Relief down.

The league's clubs pledged to donate 10p for every run scored by the 46 teams that day to the charity, and there were plenty of them.

The charitable offer was part of the league's 70th anniversary. League secretary Shane Hargrave said: "Batting for such a worthy cause is our way of putting something back into the community we have served since 1933."

Macmillan Cancer Relief's York Appeal co-ordinator Alex Emsley said: "This is a fantastic idea for fundraising. It is really enabling the community of York to help contribute to the current appeal in a truly different way."

The Bishopthorpe batsmen took top honours by scoring 221 runs at Westow, Danny Williams amassing 86.

Westow are noted for not giving in and despite early wickets the middle order clicked into gear. Alas, only Mark Earle showed real resistance with 53 before Colin Markham's 6-84 stopped Westow 18 runs short.

Askham Bryan YPO fell to defeat at Stockton and Hopgrove.

Richard Kerrison (62no) was the main man with a Stockton bat, helping to double his side's score in the final 12 overs. A severely depleted Askham side had veteran Willie Knight (58no) to thank for reaching 152-8.

With Askham falling, Norwich Union took top spot with victory at British Sugar. Union batted first against ten Sugar men and racked up a respectable 182-7, Wayne Bellerby being the most successful Sugar bowler with 4-71. Then the accurate Union attack bowled Sugar out for 129.

Ian Holmes' 57no was the mainstay of Ovington's 139-7. This was not enough, though, as Drax steamrollered their way to an eight-wicket win.

North Duffield visited Burn and were easily beaten after being put into bat. Dave Beilby carried his bat for 66no in Duffield's 133-6 but there were still ten overs left when Burn eclipsed this for the loss of two wickets.

In division two, Heworth and Wheldrake shared 358 runs. Anton Rogers held Heworth's innings together with 86no. Wheldrake's top order all scored decent runs so when the last over came Les Fearn required two runs to win. However, his failure to penetrate the field meant a tie.

Ten-man Ben Johnson frightened second-placed Kelfield. Steve Wragg's 71 helped Ben Johnson's score to 204-6. However, Kelfield's resilience again shone through with Marin Rhodes (73) and Neil Atkinson (75) aiding their side's win with four wickets left.

Tollerton Outlaws remain undefeated and on top after a comfortable six-wicket win over Thorpe Willoughby.

The top game in division three saw second-placed Stillingfleet go down at Burton Salmon.

Steve Warner led the hosts' innings with 126 and although their score of 218-3 was within Stillingfleet's grasp as Mike Walker scored 81, the visitors lost regular wickets and eventually fell by 13 runs.

Wistow moved into second place thanks to a ten-wicket victory over Askham Bryan.

Mark Alford's brilliant return of 6-15 from eight overs helped bowl out Askham for 94. Phil Elliott then scored an unbeaten 57 in reply.

Two amazing scores saw Malton and Old Malton triumph over Clifton Alliance. Firstly Adam Blacklee smashed 112 and secondly there were 50 extras, as Malton's 233-6 proved too strong.

A tight game in division four saw Selby come within a boundary of overhauling Acomb's 140.

Going into the last over, Selby's last pair of Chris Jeffery's and Richard Wain needed 17 runs and, although they came close, Wain was bowled on the last ball going for the boundary needed for victory.

Bishopthorpe's returning hero, Henry Haystead, smashed 83 unbeaten runs in his side's 203-3. Pocklington's 14-year-old batting sensation Shaun Elvidge's 75 tried to guide Pock home but John Latimer's 3-12 ended their hopes 54 runs shy.

Tadcaster Magnet stayed top of division five after an on-song Will Young took four Malton wickets, with Tadcaster then losing four wickets in surpassing Malton's 100 all out.

Mick Jay's 6-39 from 16 overs proved in vain as his Stockton and Hopgrove side fell victim to Selby.

Thorpe Willoghby's recent upturn was curtailed by Wheldrake.

Kevin Dent's 5-19 skittled Thorpe for 70, and then the Cockerill clan guided Wheldrake home without loss.

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, June 26, 2003