The Hunters York and District Senior League's representative side reached the final of the Nixon Yorkshire Inter-League Knock-Out Trophy when they defeated the Leeds West Riding League by 58 runs at Stamford Bridge.

The decisive performances came from Dunnington's Hamed Khan and Acomb skipper Andy Tute. They each scored half-centuries as they forged a second-wicket partnership of 129 in 19 overs.

Opener Nick Hadfield of Woodhouse Grange had made 23 out of the first 26 when he was bowled by Rothwell bowler Ken Atkinson in the sixth over.

This paved the way for Khan and Tute to make merry as they both reached their half-centuries at virtually a run a ball.

The stand was ended at 155 when Khan was caught off the bowling of Simon Lonsdale for 64. Tute followed almost immediately when a direct hit from the outfield had him run out for 66.

Leeds player-manager Paul Clark, of Fairburn, then dismissed York and District skipper Martin Piercy for 13 but Jamie Mitchell and Harwood Williams kept the scorers busy until Garforth's Lonsdale removed Williams for 18.

Beverley-based Jamie Mitchell made a spirited 30 before being caught off Clark then Paul Miles and Richard Sykes added 24 in the final two overs to lift the final score to 254-6. Clark, with 2-40, was the best bowler for the visitors.

When Leeds West Riding replied, the pace of Oral Blackford, of Carlton Towers, and Thirsk teenager Neil Laidlaw restricted them to just nine runs in the first five oovers.

However, their openers then came to terms with the attack and made 79 in 70 minutes before Fairburn's Ian Jones was stumped by Paul Miles off the bowling of Hornsea's Richard Medforth.

His fellow opener, Mark Bentley, of Netherton, completed a half-century before being bowled by Hamed Khan for 58.

Former York Senior League player Craig Pigott, who now plays at Fairburn following his move some time ago from Castleford, made 21 before he too fell to Medforth, and the Leeds response then faded as Medforth took 3-38 and Hamed Khan 3-49 to leave the West Riding men way short of their target despite a spirited effort when their innings closed at 196-7.

Updated: 08:42 Thursday, August 11, 2005