YORK kicked off a crucial trio of Bank Holiday fixtures with a big victory over Scarborough in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League.

The middle order set up the win as Nick Kay continued his good form with 72 as his partnership of 76 with Charlie Elliot (62) helped the home side post an impressive 313-6.

It proved a target well beyond Scarborough who, despite Darren Harland’s valiant 96, succumbed to a 103-run defeat, allowing York to trim two points off the gap to leaders Yorkshire Academy.

A cautious opening stand of 47 between Simon Lambert (23) and Daniel Woods (12) was undone by three quick wickets as they reached 75-3.

Lambert drove at a ball from Carl Joyce and was caught behind by keeper Darren Harland. Visiting captain Andy Simpson then struck twice, bowling Liam McKendry (20) before Woods cut a ball to Anthony Hunter at point.

Kay was dropped on seven but, after a nervy start, he and Ryan McKendry added 75 in 12 overs before Tom Precious bowled McKendry for 47.

Richard Love made a rapid-fire 36 from only 27 balls, but his wicket left York on 197-5 with 14 overs remaining.

Kay reached his fifth half-century of the season off 82 balls, hitting five fours, and he and Elliot combined to take the total to 273 before he picked out Sam Carver on the deep point boundary off Chris Grey. The final five overs gave Elliot the chance to reach a half-century, from 37 balls.

The early loss of skipper Simpson, bowled by Glen Richmond for seven, set Scarborough back, but partnerships of 66 between Darren Harland and Carl Joyce, and 69 between Harland and Chris Grey kept them in with an outside chance of victory.

With the total on 75, Elliot removed Joyce, bowled for 24, but York had to wait 13 overs for their next success as Elliot ran out Grey.

Tom Bruce was fourth out with the score on 180, caught at short mid-on by Pringle for 18, the first of three wickets for Woods.

That sparked a collapse as the last six wickets fell for 30 runs.

Yesterday, York beat Castleford by one-wicket in a thrilling finish to close the gap at the top to nine points.

Cas were all out for 167 and, despite 35 from Richard Love, York were struggling at 109-5 in reply. With one wicket remaining, they still needed 11 to win and Tom Love hit an unbeaten 16 to see them home.