THE big clash between Ovington and Bishopthorpe went right to the wire, with the Bishops winning the HPH York Vale Cricket League division one encounter in the final over by two wickets.

The game was played at the University of York’s Heslington Lane ground – the fifth year in a row that Ovington had to play this fixture on a neutral ground – and it turned out to be a cracker.

Tom Cookson (57 from 35 balls) got Ovington off to a flying start with 74 runs coming from the opening ten overs. It was Cookson’s third half century in a row. He was one of four run out victims in Ovington’s 174 all out.

James Mackie (38), Ben Smith (36) and Andrew Seager (39) left Bishopthorpe needing 12 off 18 balls.

Dom Kitching conceded just one run from the 38th over and then picked up a wicket with the second ball of the final to leave Bishopthorpe on 170-8 with four balls to go. In a tense finish, Andy Kenny crashed the winning runs through extra cover with a ball to spare.

Ben Johnson were in trouble at 30-4 and 79-6 against Kelfield before 61 from Neil Drew lifted them to 158-9. Kelfield reaching their target with 8.3 overs to spare.

Westow hit back from 70-3 against Burn with a fifth wicket partnership of 77 between Mark Earle (75) and Alistair Fothergill (36) before late hitting took Westow beyond 200.

A second-wicket partnership between Rob Webster (82) and Tom Bourke (52), followed by Jamie Bingle’s unbeaten 43, gave Burn victory. It was Webster’s final knock before heading home to Los Angeles.

Stockton & Hopgrove slid to their third successive defeat after Melbourne’s Brian Underwood cleaned up the Stockton tail with 5-13. Needing only 81 to win, Melbourne knocked off the runs in 23.1 overs.

Acomb’s bowlers blew Ovington II away at the Retreat in division two.

Harry Watkinson (4-12), Chris Burton (3-12) and Steve Lennox (3-22) reduced Ovington to 34-9 before Ben Busby’s unbeaten 49 earned Ovington a batting point. Earlier, Andy Ingle scored exactly 50 as Acomb posted 198-5.

Bowlers dominated as Askham Bryan beat Hirst Courtney, who were torn apart by James McCullough with figures of 7-2-11-4.

The pressure was maintained by Ujal Bahgwat (3-12) as Hirst were dismissed for just 69. Askham ground their way to 70-6 at the close, batting out 14 maidens in the process.

Openers Ali Barton (54) and John Myers (37) set up Clifton Alliance’s seven-wicket win at Malton & Old Malton.

In division three, Thorpe Willoughby won at Bishopthorpe II with Ross Powell scoring a patient 66. Ed Bindloss starred for the losers with 53 and 3-29 from 12 overs.

After two defeats to Thixendale last season, Thorp Arch & Boston Spa turned the tables with an 18-run victory which featured three wicket maidens by Pat Flannery on his way to 4-13.

Ryan Lockwood’s 5-26 enabled Pocklington to successfully defend a meagre 92 against Yapham in division four.

A century opening stand between Malton & Old Malton’s Oliver Farrow (55) and John Sims (60no) was not enough to prevent Ovington III sealing a four-wicket victory.

Press Performance of the Week: Rob Webster’s 82 for Burn enabled his division one side to come out on top in a run-fest at Westow.