AN unbeaten century from overseas signing Zac Keune (110no) has helped Stamford Bridge up to third in Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North.
Despite a spirited display from hosts Beverley Town, Bridge enjoyed a 61-run victory which helps boost their title challenge hopes.
Australian Keune shared stands of 71 and 109 with Ryan McKendry (30) and James Keast (44). With openers Kyle Waite (33) and Jonny Rawsthorne (39) putting on 79 together, the visitors were able to post an imposing 274-4.
Buoyed by a maiden victory the previous week, the home side put on a good display. Olly Grantham (49) narrowly missed out on a half-century and the middle-order trio of Peter Shally (33), Anthony Spence (31) and Ben Fish (44) all contributed valuable runs before all four were dismissed by Ryan McKendry, who finished with season-best figures of 5-57.
The hosts’ total of 213-8 fell well short of victory but was enough to earn them two points.
Woodhouse Grange remain top after picking up maximum points against Scarborough. It looked like Grange would leave North Marine Road empty-handed until the hosts collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for just 30 runs.
Earlier in the day, openers Andrew Bilton (81) and Chris Wood put the visitors in a strong position with a stand of 85 but it needed a gutsy 39 from Tom Young to hold the innings together as Yorkshire paceman Mathew Pillans (4-32) picked up four wickets in the space of five overs and Linden Gray struck with consecutive deliveries as the visitors themselves slid from 151-3 to 184 all out.
For the hosts, Sam Drury - the competition's leading run scorer - scored a run-a-ball half-century, and Casey Rudd made 33, but the match was turned on its head in the space of a dozen overs, Grange skipper James Finch (3-40) and youngster Chris Wood (3-42) finishing with three wickets each.
Second-placed Dunnington kept up the pressure on the leaders as they ended a two-game losing streak with victory at Sessay.
Dave Brent (3-40) finished the pick of the Dunnington bowlers as Sessay posted 158-9.
Carver (3-30) then reduced the visitors to 17-3 in reply before Chris Peareth's 66 helped his side home with four wickets to spare.
Sheriff Hutton Bridge further dented York’s hopes of retaining their title with a three-wicket win at Clifton Park - SHB's fourth consecutive win.
Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher (2-14) struck a couple of early blows for the visitors. Despite 62 from Duncan Snell and thirties from Matthew Bell and Tom Brooks, the home side could only muster 176-6. Dulash Udayanga also picked up a brace (2-53).
While no single performance stood out for the visitors, Edward Barnes (38), Adam Fisher (35) and Tommy Hudson (43) all provided telling contributions, while Daniel Woods (2-37) and Jack Leaning (2-52) shared a combined four wickets from 26 overs.
Harrogate could face a relegation battle after losing by five wickets to fellow strugglers Clifton Alliance.
South African Matthew Montgomery struck an unbeaten 95 - the best innings by some way from an Alliance batsman this season,while Harrogate's Ishan Abeysakara took 3-65.
Earlier in the day, both Josh Atkinson (49) and Ross Sedgley (51) made important contributions, but they were not enough to prevent the visitors romping to victory with more than 10 overs to spare.
Eddie Morrison took 4-30 as Castleford won by 100 runs at Yorkshire Academy.
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