BOTTOM club Wheldrake gave themselves a chance to avoid the drop by thrashing fellow HPH York Vale Cricket League division one strugglers Askham Bryan.

Ben Challis created havoc with his 5-26 as Askham were bowled out for 54.

Wheldrake openers Martin Lambert (18 not out) and Steve Rouse (24no) only scored seven runs off the first six overs before finishing the game in the 12th.

Ovington got sucked into the relegation battle when they lost to Clifton Alliance.

Clifton were wobbling at 67-5 before finishing on 157-7. Ovington got to 41-0 before Joseph Hodge (3-12) struck twice in an over. Although Liam Herringshaw made 41,Will Moll (3-39) and Jake Atkinson (4-23) saw Ovington slump to 109 all out.

The result lifted Alliance to second place but leaders Westow show no signs of weakness, comfortably beating Thixendale. An unbeaten 117 by Andrew Welford, including a stand of 110 with Matthew Shipley (42), saw Westow to 243-6.

Stand-in Thix skipper Joe Robinson smashed a 41-ball 71 in response but Dale were bowled out for 172, Jacob Stephenson and Adrian Upton taking four wickets each.

Kelfield recovered from 47-3 against Melbourne to 237-5 thanks to a century stand by Jamie Wheeler (96) and Chris Walker (37) and a late flurry by Ryan Lorryman (39no). Melbourne’s reply was led by Andy Thomas (92no) but nobody could stay with him to pose a threat.

Ed Clark top scored with 41 in Burn’s 149-7 against South Cave & Brantingham. Sid Sharma scored 48 as Cave survived a middle-order wobble triggered by Jacob Webster (4-27) to win by four wickets with 11 balls remaining.

Stockton & Hopgrove remain on course for an immediate return to the top flight after beating Hemingbrough.

Dan Fairclough (36) helped S&H race to 43 in six overs before being run out. Steve Fraser (39) and Tom Williams (56) put on 94 in a total of 204 all out.

Opener Johnny Cockerill (42) tried to hold Hemingbrough’s innings together but they were bowled out for 106 with Athula Rathanayke and Pubudu Dasanayaka taking three wickets each.

Ben Johnson moved off the bottom by beating Bishopthorpe who slipped into the relegation zone.

Will Middleton scored his maiden senior half-century, his 35-ball 51 taking Bishopthorpe to 121 all out. Steve Wragg (4-30) was the standout bowler for Ben Johnson. The printers' top three batsmen - Danny Cameron (39), Paul Anderson (22) and Martin Reynolds (41no) - won the match inside 20 overs.

Malton & Old Malton proved too strong for Thorpe Willoughby, romping home by 189 runs.

Seven Malt players reached double figures with Chris Bingham leading the way with 53. In contrast, only two Thorpe players reached double figures in an innings offering up four ducks, Nick Lock taking 6-18 with his left-arm seamers.

After Hirst Courtney opener Dave Howsam retired hurt on 24, Alex Barraclough (90) and Nick Towle (38) took their score to 138 against Stamford Bridge before the first wicket fell. Half-centuries by Rob Gilyeat (51no) and Josh Moore (56) made light of the 179 target as Bridge won by seven wickets.

It must have felt like a last throw of the dice when Pocklington turned to under-13s off-spinner Freddie Hara. At 118-3 after 28 overs, Yapham were cruising to their victory target of 145 when Hara came on to grab 6-22 and earn Pock a remarkable one-run win.

A captain’s innings of 75 not out by Jimmy Taylor saw Ovington II overcome Clifton Alliance II’s 145-6 which featured 66 by Glynn Brooks Humphrey.

Dunnington’s Steve Jackson passed 500 league runs for the season when his unbeaten 42 clinched victory against Selby.

Press Performance of the Week: Youngster Freddie Hara spun Pocklington to a remarkable victory against Yapham in division three with 6-22.