CLIFTON Alliance consolidated second place in the HPH York Vale League behind runaway leaders Westow by easing to a 10-wicket win over a depleted Wheldrake.

The village side were looking good at 113-2 thanks to Martin Lambert (44) and Ben Challis (63 not out), but when Lambert fell it left a long tail exposed.

Tom Bews capitalised with a hat-trick to finish with 3-39 and opening bowler Matt Mellor bowled a miserly 12-4-16-1.

Alliance openers Jason Gatus (61no) and Ali Wray (73no) reached their target in 21 overs.

Westow were severely tested at South Cave & Brantingham where they got home with eight balls to spare.

Cave were 16-2 but Sid Sharma and Mark Ash (35) added 71 before centurion Sharma (113) and Pranav Mishra (92) enjoyed a 160-run stand to help them to 299-9.

At 59-3 it looked like Westow’s unbeaten league record was under threat, but they rebuilt their innings with a partnership of 113 between Andrew Phillips (91) and Ali Fothergill (57).

When Phillips was out in the 35th over, Westow still required 42 to win but Nathan Pratt smashed three sixes in an unbeaten 49 to get them home.

Ovington were 20-2 after 10 overs and 70-4 after 24 against Melbourne before closing on 119. James Coupland followed his 3-32 with 70, his innings including 14 boundaries. Oliver Steels (32no) helped to wrap the game up in the 18th over.

Harry Cruise inspired Burn to victory against Kelfield.

Openers Leigh Adamson (40) and Ben Steward (31) put on 78 and Cruise (47) and Ed Clark (61) added 96 in 14 overs as Burn totalled 250.

Cruise then took the wicket of Matt Walker with the second delivery of Kelfield's innings and took another three in his next four overs. Neil Atkinson (70) stood firm but Jacob Webster (2-6) opened the door for Cruise (5-49) to finally dismiss Kelfield for 180.

Division two leaders Stockton & Hopgrove made short work of seeing off Yapham’s total of 114. Yapham reached 97-2, thanks largely to opener Craig Readhead, but Sharnaka (4-9) and Dean Tyler (4-37) got busy as Yapham lost seven wickets for 17 runs.

Stockton opener Dan Fairclough raced to 72 not out as his side took just 19 overs to take a nine-wicket victory. His innings included 13 fours and a six and he shared a stand of 68 with Tom Williams.

Depleted Hemingbrough reached 89-2 against Ben Johnson with opener Steve Watson scoring 42. But 16-year-old spinner Liam Mostert (3-8) dismissed Watson as Hemingbrough lost their last five wickets for five runs. Mostert (44no) and Danny Cameron (47no) made short work of the small target.

After a 64-run partnership between Andy Kirk (39) and Tony Hinch (32), Thorpe Willoughby slid to 120-7 but Martin Cooke (50no) got them to 200.

Hirst Courtney’s victorious reply was dominated by a chanceless 114 not out from Ben Copeland, supported by Alex Barraclough (51) as they put on 98 for the second wicket.

In division three, Stamford Bridge crashed to 16-6 against Selby’s Luke Berzins (5-45) and 12-year-old Oliver Parsonage (2-19). The hosts recovered to 121-9 thanks to Liam Easton (70no).

The spin of Neil Porteus (4-25) left Selby on the brink of defeat on 108-9 but last pair Luke Berzins and Stuart Dearnley held their nerve, Dearnley hitting the winning runs in the 39th over.

Pocklington's first six batsmen all scored more than 20 against Ovington II, Rich Bower (46no) top-scoring as they made 207-6. Jonathan Souch (48) led the chase but Pock held Ovington to 190-9.

Press Performance of the Week: Harry Cruise took 5-49 and struck a rapid 47 to give Burn victory against Kelfield in division one.