THIRSK bowler Barry Petty produced the best bowling performance of the season in the Costcutter York and District Senior Cricket league premier division when his 7-54 set up an eight wicket win for his side at Whitkirk.

Petty, who took 30 wickets more than any other bowler in the top flight last season, took his seasonal total to 37 at the half way stage and is already nine wickets ahead of his nearest rival.

Whitkirk's Mark Selth became the first batsman to reach 500 runs when he made 46 to move to 520 with assistance from Robert Horner (34) and Neil Edgecock (38).

However, Selth's fellow Australian Lincoln McCrae then hit his highest score in Thirsk colours as he reached 75no and, with Andrew Hawke making 34no, Thirsk ran out winners by 8 wickets to resurrect their challenge for honours.

Pace-setters Easingwold saw their lead cut to 14 points as the season reached its half-way stage when they were denied victory at Heworth, who reached 149-7 in reply to Easingwold's 183-5.

The Galtres side's total was reached through Martin Piercy's 56 and Jonathan Marwood's 41 as spinner Mark Bell moved to 22 wickets with 4 for 53. Paul Redshaw then claimed 3 for 41 but found resistance from Dave Simpson (41) and David Bowling, who made 32no, and the Elm Park side reached a comfortable draw.

Clifton Alliance kept up the pressure on the leaders when they had an easy win over lowly Osbaldwick, who were dismissed for 101 as Jamie Postill took 6 for 42 and Aussie Joel Southam 4-46. Dave Heard made 28 for 'Osso' but his efforts were negated when Darren Barton made 31 and then Richard Hunter saw the Alliance to an 8 wicket win with an unbeaten 23.

Acomb moved into third place when they had a big win at Pickering whose defeat by 112 runs send them sliding into the bottom half of the table. Sri Lankan Dominda Perera top scored with 52 as Acomb took full batting points by making 212-6. Joey Burton (42) and Dave Sykes (39no) lent support with the latter lifting his batting average to 73.

Sykes then continued in the same vein, taking 4 for 54 and, with skipper Richard Clayton taking 3-41 the Pikes were dismissed for exactly 100. Only Neil Simmonds (26) offered any modicum of resistence.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge missed the opportunity to go into third place when their batting failed badly at Sutton on Derwent, and left hosts Woodhouse Grange to chase a modest total. Paul Scaling hit 28 on his return from injury and Paul Oldfield made 26 but Steve Burdett took 3 for 25 off 16 overs and West Indian Terry Rollock 3 for 20 as he too returned from injury to bowl the Bridge out for 137. After the break, Rawalpindi-based Shakil Nawaz produced an exceptionally economical spell as he took 3 for 37 off 23 overs but, Nick Hadfield, with 30, and then Mike Burdett, who made an unbeaten 41, made valuable runs and Grange won by 4 wickets.

Driffield remain as the only side in the division without a victory and plunged to bottom place when they lost by eight wickets at Pocklington, who are now 15 points ahead of their opponents in 11th place.

Pocklington's Mike Newhouse posed problems for the Driffield batsmen as he claimed 5 for 20, the only visiting batsmen to make any impression being Ankur Sondhi and Richard Harrison who each made 27 in Driffield's 108 all out.

In Pocklington's reply, Rod Hinch made 26 but the decisive innings came from Andy Inns who made an unbeaten 57 as Pocklington cruisedhome.

sport@ycp.co.uk