Charlie Elliot's efforts in vain as top-order collapse heralds York’s exit from National Club Championship

The Clifton Park side were at one stage reeling on 18-7 against South Northumberland and, although the hosts rallied thanks to an unbeaten half-century from Charlie Elliot, they were unable to defend a moderate total as Simon Birtwisle was again instrumental in their departure from the competition.

The innings was just two balls old when Stephen Humble picked up the first of his four wickets, Duncan Snell bowled without scoring.

Humble then held the catch at extra cover to dismiss Liam McKendry in Jonathan Wightman’s second over and, three balls later, Birtwisle took an excellent catch low down at slip to dismiss Joe Ashdown off Humble.

Ryan McKendry under-edged a wide ball from Wightman onto his stumps, and when Richard Brown left a ball from Humble which knocked out his off-stump, the total was 11-5.

Alex Collins clipped a catch to Michael Craigs at short mid-wicket as Wightman picked up his third wicket, and Humble claimed his fourth when Tom Brooks was given out lbw.

With all that condensed into the first nine overs, there were still the opening fielding restrictions in place when Tom Pringle joined Richard Love and the pair took advantage going on the counter-attack.

Their partnership of 40 from six overs contained six fours, defying what had gone before, and it was not until David Rutherford replaced Humble that the breakthrough came, when Love played back and was bowled for 21 by a ball which kept low.

Neither Pringle nor Elliot looked to be in much difficulty during a stand of 36 which took the total onto 94 before Pringle, having reached 33, was dismissed in bizarre circumstances - a delivery from Rutherford striking him on the foot then ballooning over his head leaving him unsighted before coming to rest against the base of the stumps and dislodging a bail.

Skipper Dan Woods joined Elliot, who had made 19 at that stage, and, despite a number of bowling changes, York’s final pairing continued to frustrate the visitors.

Both played their roles to perfection in a stand which lasted right through until the 45th and final over.

Elliot reached his deserved half-century off 66 balls, including five fours, and a six off Birtwisle took the total beyond 150.

He remained unbeaten on 58 - an effort made even more notable given he had missed the previous six games through injury - when Woods was last out, having contributed 20 to a partnership of 62, caught at long-off by Michael Craigs off Birtwisle.

A total of 156 was considerably more than seemed possible given the disastrous start.

However, hopes of applying some pressure in the reply did not materialise as Rob Peyton and Birtwisle - who ended York’s hopes in last season’s competition with an 83-ball century while playing for Chester-le-Street - plundered 14 boundaries in the opening nine overs.

Indeed, the visitors raced to 68 before the first wicket fell, Pringle trapping Peyton lbw for 31.

A stand of 75 in 20 overs with Jonathan Craigs (43 not out) gradually took the game away from the home side and, by the time Birtwisle was caught by Brook of Woods, the game was already gone, leaving former Aussie Test batsman Marcus North needing just a handful of runs to secure his side's victory.