YORK Cricket Club’s run of four wins in a row ended with in a four-wicket defeat at Barnsley in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

Adam Whatley got the visitors off to a flying start, striking Harry Rouse for four boundaries in the bowler’s opening two overs.

He was even more severe on youngster James Brown, who came on as first change, dispatching him for four consecutive fours in his opening over, the third of which saw the Australian reach a half-century from 41 balls.

Simon Lambert provided the perfect foil for Whatley, contributing 37 to an opening stand of 105 from 16 overs before Whatley, having reached 65, was caught at long-on by Azeem Rafiq as Brown gained revenge for the previous over’s punishment.

Liam McKendry lasted only six balls before being trapped lbw by Ali Jahangir without scoring, but a partnership of 34 between Ryan McKendry and Lambert moved the score on to 140 by the 25th over.

The pair were separated when Lambert, having made 56, was run out. The next three wickets added only 22 runs as Rouse returned and took three wickets for seven runs in a five-over burst reducing them 162-6.

McKendry remained unbeaten on 26 and was joined by Tom Brooks in adding 71 for the seventh wicket.

Rouse claimed a fourth wicket, Rafiq again the catcher, as McKendry was out for 57 and Brooks (39) followed in the next over, and York were bowled out for 251.

Seven no-balls in the opening seven overs hindered York’s attempts to make early inroads and the first wicket came in the 17th, Lambert trapping Matthew Wilson lbw for 27 from a total of 77.

Two wickets from Ryan McKendry, including Jonathon Trower stumped by Brooks for 37, brought York back into the game.

A stand of 78 from 16 overs between Azeem Rafiq and skipper Jason Booth regained the initiative for the home side, and from that point on it felt as though York were always chasing the game.

McKendry picked up a third wicket when Rafiq was lbw on 47 and Lambert had Booth (39) stumped with the total on 185, leaving 67 required from the final 13 overs.

With tension building, Ryan McKendry held a good catch in the deep to dismiss Zohaib Ahmad off Lambert but Nuttall saw his side home with an unbeaten 36.

Brown finished 21 not out as Barnsley reached their target with an over to spare.