SELBY sailed past Thirsk to strengthen their grip on top spot in Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League division two north following a resounding seven-wicket success.

Selby won the toss and invited their visitors to bat first. Michael Smales then ripped through the struggling batting order to collect impressive figures of 6-37 as Thirsk were restricted to 138-9 from their 45 overs.

Rain then came during the break to reduce Selby's innings to just 30 overs. Still requiring 139 runs for victory, leading run-scoring Matt Hoyle steered the hosts to success, striking an unbeaten 56 to give Selby their 11th victory of the summer.

Londesborough Park boosted their promotion chances with a 38-run victory over lowly Easingwold.

Having lost the toss and asked to bat, Park declared after just 32 overs having reached 183-5. Greg Drewery (62) top-scored for the visitors.

Their bold declaration may have been down to the gathering rain clouds in the area, but their decision proved fruitful as they hurried through the Easingwold batting line up.

Mark Tissiman was the pick of the bowlers for the promotion hopefuls, claiming match figures of 4-29 to help reduce the hosts to 145 all out. Park's narrow victory lifted them into the second promotion spot some 64 points behind runaway leaders Selby.

Andy Parkinson produced a fine all-round display to guide Clifton Alliance to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over bottom club Acomb. Parkinson collected a five-wicket haul to help restrict Acomb to 158-7 from their reduced 40 overs.

The all-rounder then returned with the bat to strike an unbeaten 51, alongside Hayden Bradley (56 not out), to steer Alliance to a resounding win in 30 overs.

York claimed a 59-run success over Hovingham. Hovingham won the toss and invited York to bat first but the hosts could only manage 127 before being bowled out with Richard Bowling (4-29) and Thomas Lund (3-27) both among the wickets.

It was still to prove more than enough as Ian Giddins produced a memorable spell to bowl his side to victory, collecting figures of 6-12 as the visitors collapsed to 68 all out.

Elsewhere rain ruled, as the matches between Duncombe Park and Sheriff Hutton and Harrogate and Ripon were both abandoned.