MALTON & Old Malton II endured last-over drama for the second week running in division four of the HPH York Vale League.

On Saturday they were pipped by one run by Pocklington, having being forced to settle for a tie the previous week with Selby II.

The silver lining for Malton was a fine century for Swaminathan Thiagarajan, which took his side to the brink of victory.

Batting first, Pock looked set for a 200-plus score as their openers put on 81, but the run charge was halted as Malt skipper Mick Liversidge bowled a superb spell for 4-46. Will Schofield and Thiagarajan, a Pickering-based doctor known as Thiagu to his team-mates, chipped in with a couple of wickets as Pocklington closed on 189-8.

Malton’s reply began slowly with 41 coming off the first 13 overs before a wicket fell. Kieran Windress (33), in the company of Thiagu, upped the tempo as Malton gradually moved towards their target.

Thiagu, despite batting with a runner, got Malton up to 144-6 after 33 overs and he was still there as Malt needed nine to win from the final over bowled by Chris Bullock.

The first delivery went for four but the remaining five balls only yielded two runs as Pock won by the narrowest margins with Thiagu stranded on 114 not out.

Stamford Bridge’s game on Sunday against Heworth II was wiped out by the remnants of Hurricane Bertha.

Despite a first ‘five-for’ by Ali Fothergill (5-43), Westow lost at home by 15 runs against Hirst Courtney in division two.

The visitors got stuck in A64 traffic and arrived late, seeing the game reduced to 32 overs a side. Jake Wild soon made up for lost time, rattling 77, as Hirst totalled 154-7, aided by poor fielding and catching.

Wild then took 4-28 and despite the best efforts of Jamie Smith (47) and Andy Phillips (36), Westow fell short.

Malton & Old Malton I had a walkover in division three as opponents Stockton & Hopgrove could not raise a side.