The most thrilling finish in the Hunters the Estate Agent York and District Senior League premier division was at Acomb where the hosts captured Pickering's final wicket with the scores level to take 20 points from a tied game.

This reward helped Acomb maintain a 22-point lead, while Pickering's 19 points lifted them to third.

Sanjay Rodrigo was the home side's top scorer as he made 62 with Richard Sykes adding 26 to a total of 153-9 which was kept within reasonable limits by Craig Aconley (4-34) and Tony Evans (4-87) in a lengthy spell.

Pickering looked to Colin Frank (68) and Mark Aconley (27) for the bulk of their runs. Richard Allman took 3-22, but Rodrigo (3-53) had the final say as he captured the last wicket with the scores level.

Woodhouse Grange were the only outright winners in the top-flight as they gained their first victory of the season to move off the foot of the table by the clear margin of nine wickets over previously unbeaten Sessay.

Sessay skipper Richard Till was the only batsman to make a mentionable show with 32 as team-mates failed to come to terms with the bowling of Steve Burdett (3-32) and Kamran Sajid (3-35) in an all out score of 114.

Woodhouse lost a wicket with just six on the board but then coasted home without further mishap as Sajid, with 52no, and Nick Hadfield 58no shared an unbroken stand of 112.

Hamid Khan hit his second successive century and his best in the York League when he made 148 as Dunnington plundered the Clifton Alliance attack. Simon Kellett weighed in with 73, while Collis King added 44 in a total of 294-4.

Clifton's batsmen also fared well with Luke Wells making 52, A. Crouch 27 and John Hunter 31 as John McHale claimed 3-49. Richard Musgrave then steered Clifton to a draw with an unbeaten 48 from the total of 196-5.

Easingwold's Martin Robinson carried on his good form with the bat when he made 74 against Beverley Town. Support was provided by Jonathan Marwood with 63 and Dan Copeland who was unbeaten on 40 as Easingwold totalled 228-8 despite the concerted efforts of Barry Sayer (3-54) and Peter Parnaby (4-97).

In reply, Graeme Taylor made 60 and Alistair Brumfoeld 44 as they drew at 185-8. Jason Sergeant had 3-45 for the hosts supplemented by Alan Robinson's 3-16.

Runs flowed freely at Elm Park Way where both the hosts, Heworth, and visiting Carlton Towers still failed to open entries in their wins column as the game ended in a draw.

Heworth gained the most satisfaction after amassing a healthy 249-3.

Matthew Atkinson made 43 before being one of a trio of casualties, but a 157-run unbroken fourth-wicket stand put the game beyond the visitors. Skipper Paul Mosey narrowly missed making a ton when he was left on 98no while John Preston was an able ally, unbeaten on 69.

Heworth's bowlers found wickets equally difficult to bag with only Trevor Walton (3-41) posing problems as Aussie Sam MacNally made 56, Paul Wright 41 and Jamie Pocklington 27 to see Carlton to maximum batting points and a draw at 204-5.

Osbaldwick's Richard Carew denied Thirsk victory when he made an unbeaten 102 to gain his side a draw despite yet another top haul from Barry Petty, whose 6-80 was his season's best.

Garry Kelson missed out on a century when he fell for 94 but Des Wyrill made 49 to help the Northerners reach 201-6 despite Damon Aston's 4-66. Osbaldwick's reply reached 187-8.

Updated: 09:45 Monday, June 09, 2003