Malton beat Harome by one run in a top-of-the-table thriller in division one of the Ryedale Beckett League – giving the leaders their first defeat of the season.

All of the Malton team batted well with Ben Gill (48), Danny Foxton (25) and M Hodgson (27) shining as they totalled 131-7 against Dave Greenlay (3-31). Hodgson later took 3-22.

In reply, Harome lost early wickets and, although they pulled back into the game as Phil Marwood made 71, tight bowling from Tom Hoggard and Danny Foxton in the last two overs left Harome needing two from the last ball, and youngster Hoggard held his nerve.

Harome then beat Westow by 25 runs to secure them top spot again.

Dave Greenlay (66), Mark Haines (27), Josh Greenlay (24) and James Greenlay (23no) took them to 188-4.

Westow’s Neil Earle hit a valiant 103 in search of victory, being dropped three times before being caught on the boundary.

They required 33 from three overs but tight bowling from Steve Dodsworth, James Greenlay and Dave Greenlay (3-33) secured Harome victory.

Mid-table Pickering beat bottom club Heslerton by one run. The Pikes started well, achieving 21 off the first two overs, but then struggled until Rob Aconley scored a quick 41.

Other useful contributions in their 121-4 came from Shaun Smith (19) and Col Frank (17).

Heslerton fought back with Eddie Craggs (2-19) having an impressive spell. Craggs (43) then did well with the bat, but this was not enough as they needed three from the final ball but managed only one.

Great Habton beat Kirkbymoor-side in another tight game.

Chris Smith (21) and E Cass got Habton off to a solid start, putting on 31. Then Sam Thackray (28) and James Dawson (39) added 71 in their 116-4.

Kirkby reached 32-2 in reply before Rob Featherstone (35) and Dave Gardiner (60) added 63 in just six overs. However, Andrew Slaughter (3-33) removed them both in one over and Kirkby fell four runs short.

Duncombe Park hit 117-2 to beat Hovingham by 35 runs.

Whitwell upset second-placed Swinton & Broughton by four wickets in division two, winning with one ball to spare.

Whitwell’s bowlers started brightly as Tom Collard (3-12) and Nick Witteveen (0-12) kept things tight, with Collard removing the top three batsmen before R Jacobs (29no) and J Douthwaite (18) set a target of 78.

Andy Mitchell (17) and Tom Collard (16) got Whitwell’s reply off to a good start.

Collard was then caught brilliantly by Phil Hill and good wrist spin from A Hill (1-13) and tight bowling from B Corner (3-18) swung the advantage back Swinton’s way.

Whitwell needed 10 runs of the last over but extras and a vital boundary from Dan Coates saw Whitwell pass the required score.

Whitwell also outplayed Ampleforth with Collard hitting a century as his side won with two balls to spare.

C Cox (58), A Mackensie (43) and A Daly (22no) took Ampleforth to 150-6 although Witteveen (4-41) stemmed the tide and Archie Fothergill (1-4) bowled a good last over.

In reply, Collard smashed 103, after being dropped without scoring, and Mitchell’s straight drive won the game. Mackensie took 3-36.

Lockton overcame Thornton-le-Dale by 34 runs. Luke Kenworthy (33) and Jim Boyes (33) took their side to 127-7, despite Danny Hill’s 3-32.

Thornton could not put any runs on the scoreboard until Stuart Hill hit 35, 20 of them in one over. However, when Hill perished, so did Dale’s hopes. Jim Boyes (2-14), Rory Lancaster (2-7) and Gareth Hunt (2-10) did the damage.

Top-of-the-table Settrington beat Ryedale by seven wickets.

Ryedale made a promising start through Ryan Boyes (24) and Sam Burns (23), but tight bowling from Stephen Beal and Charlie Rounthwaite (2-7) restricted Ryedale to 94 all out, despite Ian Smith’s swift 21no. Jamie Rounthwaite (50no) batted through the reply as Settrington reached the target.

A good all-round show saw Bury-thorpe, with 99-6, beat Slingsby by 42 runs, Ollie Pimlott (3-19) shining.

Ampleforth v Nawton Grange was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.

Following a complaint by Swinton & Broughton concerning the fixture against Thornton-le-Dale on May 21, league chiefs awarded two points to Swinton for winning the game by default. No action is to be taken against Thornton.

Whitwell beat Nawton Grange by five wickets in the Division Two Cup. Inspired bowling from Nick Witteveen (2-8) and D Coates (3-7) restricted Grange to 89 all out, teenagers King and Smithson doing okay with the bat. Once Whitwell had seen off opening bowlers Wilson (2-19) and Coote (2-24), they were able to push on and win, Nick Salisbury making a match-winning 58no.