STOCKTON & Hopgrove stepped up their HPH York Vale Cricket League division one title challenge with a narrow win against Burn.

Burn recovered from 21-3 after Matt Bradshaw’s deadly accurate 8-3-8-0 figures put them on the back foot.

They were dug out of trouble by Adam Prescott (44) but Matt Durkin’s 4-30 and Dan Fairclough, back after a brief spell with Fulfordgate, returned 3-51 to see Burn restricted to 135-9.

Stockton lost father and son Rich and Jamie Kerrison cheaply and limped to 26-3 but kept chipping away at their target and at 93-7 the game was finely balanced, Tom Williams tipping the match Stockton’s way with a priceless 27 not out.

All other Saturday games in the top flight were washed out – a fate suffered in most divisions – while Sunday’s game between Clifton Alliance and Hemingbrough was abandoned because of heavy rain.

Visitors Hemingbrough rattled up 216-7 with Leyton Hallam (63), Luke Alldridge (49) and Matty Clark (45) leading the charge.

Robert Thorpe took 4-27 for Clifton whose response had reached 8-0 after a couple of overs when the heavens opened.

New skipper Nadeen Shefta led Thorpe Willoughby to victory in division two against neighbours Selby.

Garry Turner (36) and fellow opener Nasir Shefta (23) put on 88 before Nadeen Shefta (33) helped push Thorpe’s score along but from 96-1 they were bowled out for 142.

Selby’s fightback was led by Dan Collins (4-22) and Dave Brunyard (4-35).

Selby were bowled out for 116 with Nadeen Shefta taking 4-21.

Steve Smith topped scored for Selby with 35.

Copmanthorpe II’s Alistair Byers had eye-catching figures of 12-6-13-5 as Welton & Brough were rolled over for 98 in pursuit of Cop’s 123 in division three.

In division four, Bishopthorpe II bowler Rory Watson had Wheldrake II’s batsmen on the hop.

He bowled 32 consecutive dot balls as he conceded just one run in six overs, claiming the wicket of Dave Cockerill.

That paved the way for the evergreen John Latimer to turn the screw with 4-12.

Kevin Dent made 40 not out for Wheldrake but the returning Watson rolled up the innings to finish with an analysis of 12-6-18-3.

Sam Davis (32no) led Bish to a seven-wicket win.

Ray Adamson was in prime form for Burn as they won at Acomb by 15 runs. He struck a superb unbeaten 92 as Acomb’s seven bowlers had to work hard to restrict their visitors to 191-4.

Acomb’s reply was led by P Suranga (47) and Andrew Jacques (44) but fell short at 179-9. Thorp Arch & Boston Spa gained a thrilling last over one wicket win to edge out Selby II in division six.

Selby posted 122-5 and TABS looked set for an easy win at 88-3, only to be pegged back by Mick Bell (4-43).

They crept to 97-9 but Selby could not part last pair J Carr (18no) and A Williams (12no), the winning hit being a six off the first ball of the final over.