Dan's the man as York go back top

But they were also indebted to a huge performance by Doncaster. Their conquerors of the previous week, Doncaster toppled Castleford by seven wickets, overhauling a mammoth total of 288-7 in which Andrew Bourke plundered 141 runs to take him past former Yorkshire captain David Byas' 17-year-old league record of 1,389 runs.

Castleford are now six points behind York, but Cleethorpes are just two points adrift of the Clifton Park outfit as a result of their victory over Appleby Frodingham.

The other team in the title equation, Harrogate, yesterday enjoyed an overhelming win by 150 runs over the Yorkshire Academy to put themselves equal second with Cleethorpes.

The biggest danger to York at home to Rotherham on Saturday was a sharp downpour just after the start. But no further rain fell and York dismissed the visitors in just 36 overs.

Duncan Snell claimed two early victims and Rob Flack bagged another courtesy of a fine slip catch by Steve Piercy.

Dan Broadbent was soon among the Rotherham ranks and, with Jeetan Patel bowling a mean spell at the other end, Broadbent picked up five wickets with his off-spinners to reach 50 victims for the season. Hopefully, that haul will command sufficient notice at Headingley to earn him an extension of his current Yorkshire contract.

A target of 74 was unlikely to provide much of a test for the York batsmen and they raced to victory in under 12 overs with Simon Mason leading the charge with eight fours in his 38.

Scarborough gained rapid revenge for their defeat at the hands of Barnsley the previous week with a five wicket win.

Barnsley were restricted to 162 whicj Scarborough knocked off for the loss of just five wickets, Neil Elvidge leading the way with 55 and Andrew Lyth scoring an undefeated 30.

Hull's game against Driffield was disrupted by a heavy thunderstorm with Hull having reached 98-4.

Updated: 11:09 Monday, September 08, 2003