Clarke smashed 13 fours and 10 sixes during his excellent innings of 151 out of a Grindale total of 298-4.

Jamie Watson, 42, and Tony Robson, 33, also weighed in with tidy knocks for Grindale.

Valley tried their best to chase down this total, Andy Toal falling just three runs short of his century, smacking 13 fours and three sixes.

Andy McAleese, 40, and Tim Farrant, 31, took Valley to a fine 216 all out, Clarke completing a superb all-round game with 4-31.

Staxton 2nds’ game at basement club Nawton Grange 2nds was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch, but the five points gained were enough to seal promotion for Staxton, who now need just six points from their final game of the season at home to Hospitals on Saturday.

Hospitals won a low-scoring match by two wickets at home to Cloughton 2nds.

Veteran Pete Milner took 4-38 from his 22 overs as Cloughton limped to a meagre 86-8 from 45 overs.

Michael Readman tried his best to pull off an unlikely win for the visitors with figures of 5-43, but the home side limped to victory.