HAROME dealt Kirkbymoorside a blow in the defence their Ryedale Beckett League first division crown.

Captain Mark Haines was the star of the show with bat and ball as the leaders were beaten by 25 runs.

Harome’s innings of 128 was led by Nick Thronicroft, who made 56, and Haines, who hit 39.

The Moorsiders’ reply was heavily reliant on Eddie Cass’s knock of 63 as they could only reach 103.

Haines was the chief destroyer with 5-14, setting down a marker for the league’s July bowling award.

Duncombe Park dented Pickering’s fading title hopes thanks to a 35-run victory.

Park posted 185, led by Brian Leckenby’s 70 not out. Youngster Adam Leckonby hit 46 and there was a swashbuckling 46 from stalwart Peter Kent. Pickering never challenged the target despite a number of batters getting past 20, Col Frank the highest with 37.

Second-placed Settrington, the season’s surprise package, pulled off another solid victory by beating Malton & Old Malton by 15 runs.

Setty posted 141-1 thanks to aggressive half-centuries from openers Tom Harrison (68) and Stephen Beal (56). Malt were never in the hunt as the home attack restricted them to 126-6. Mike Linsley (45) top-scored.

Whitwell-on-the-Hill leapfrogged Great Habton into second place in division two after a crazy low-scoring game saw them win by one run.

Whitwell were soon reeling at 12-6 as Alex Ibbotson (5-12 off four overs) bowled with purpose, well supported by George Lumley (3-18 off four).

John Hubery (23) made the only sizeable contribution, supported at the other end by Whitwell’s youngsters, as they limped to 47 all out.

Credit goes to Ibbotson for slowing down his bowling for the youngsters.

Habton skipper John Lumley, knowing he had a strong batting line-up, gave his young guns a go at the crease, but it backfired – with daft things happening down the order.

Rob Harrison took a cracking diving catch to remove Harper, Ibbotson was clean bowled by Ted Harrison for a golden duck and the impossible suddenly became possible - Habton falling to 46 all out.

Burythorpe - with their mixed side of locals and players from York & District Senior League team Dunnington, boosted by the return of leading Scarborough Beckett League batsman Andy Slaughter - continued to set the pace at the top, with victory over Westow.

All-rounder Adam Sutcliffe posted 5-11 as only Joe Simpson (20) coped with the attack, taking his side to 78-8. In reply, club stalwart Andy Milner again saw Burythorpe home with a cultured 37, Ryan Boyd claiming 3-22 out of the six wickets to fall.