Dunnington moved nearer to capturing their first ever championship when they took the maximum 30 points by inflicting a 111 run defeat on a Whitkirk side which now seem certain to be relegated.

Dunnington were given a fine start by their openers Simon Kellett and Hamid Khan who shared a first wicket stand of 117.

Kellett went past the 900 run mark before he was dismissed for 69 whilst his partner fell for 67.

Whitkirk's bowlers then continued to suffer as Collis King lashed an unbeaten 65 and Chris Burgess reached 28no before Dunnington declared at 264 for 3 after 46 overs.

Dunnington's spinners Steve Precious, with 4 for 42, and Khan, 3 for 28, bowled their side out for 153.

Thirsk's batsmen failed to post a challenging total as James Postill captured 4 for 34 for Clifton Alliance. Opener Darren Wyrill carried his bat.

Clifton's overseas star Darren Reeves hit an unbeaten 70. Richard Musgrave chipped in with 38 as Clifton took 25 points with a seven wicket victory.

There was a high scoring game at Acomb where visiting Heworth emerged as five wicket winners after a successful run chase enabled them to eclipse the home total of 222 for 7. Andy Tute made a top score of 57 for the hosts.

Andrew Dapson then made his best score of the season for Heworth when he hit 75. Richard Clayton took 4 for 74 for the hosts but Heworth claimed the honours at 223 for 5.

Pickering's relegation fears remain after they could only take the worst of a draw against Woodhouse Grange, whose first innings total of 193 for 7 was based on a 74 run stand for the fourth wicket between Nick Hadfield (55) and Mike Burdett (57).

Pickering lost their two leading batsmen Brian Leckenby (22) and Colin Frank (18) but gained a draw through Mark Shepherd (27) and Tim Keane (30), who steered the Pikes to 154 for 7.

An unbroken stand of 203 between Stuart Boyle and Richard Carew ensured Osbaldwick of premier division cricket next season when they beat bottom placed Ripon by 9 wickets.

Ripon, needing to take maximum points to have any hope of avoiding relegation, declared at 202 for 6 after 49 overs and claimed Osbaldwick's first wicket before a run was scored.

However, this was to be the sole success for the Ripon bowlers as Carew made 93no and Boyle 92no as they raced to victory in 33.1 overs.

Ripon's total came through a good stand between Peter Squires, who was unbeaten with 64, and Andrew Frost who made 53no.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Easingwold renewed their strong rivalry in a high scoring game at Moor Farm with the draw honours going to the Bridge.

SHB made 241 for 8 thanks to Paul Oldfield (52) and Steve Crowder (32) who put on 70. Mike Smith (46no) and Nick Scaling (31) were able to add 73 for the sixth wicket until the latter was bowled by the fourth ball of the final over by Copeland who then took two further wickets with the remaining deliveries to complete an all bowled hat-trick and close with figures of 4 for 46.

Kieron Rodgers struck immediately when he bowled Jonathan Marwood for a duck but Martin Robinson and Damon Smith were able to advance the score to 92 before Smith fell to 16-year-old spinner Dan Snowball for 57. Robinson found another ally in Paul Skilbeck (33) in a 65 run stand before he was bowled by Snowball and the youngster then gained the prize scalp when he had Robinson caught by Rodgers for 72 to emerge with figures of 3 for 73 off 17 overs.

Easingwold gained full batting points in a comfortable draw at 204 for 5.