IN-FORM York Cricket Club booked a semi-final place, away to Yorkshire Academy, in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League Cup courtesy of a 50-runs victory against Cleethorpes.

But the Clifton Park side were made to work hard for their triumph and, despite a fifth century of the season from Jack Leaning and five wickets for captain Daniel Woods, the hosts did not have things all their own way.

Openers Duncan Snell and Leaning began in confident fashion taking advantage of the fielding restrictions to score 83 from the first 14 overs.

Four more runs had been added when Snell, having made 42, drove Alex Osmond straight to Bill Kirby on the edge of the circle at extra cover.

Leaning reached his half-century and the total 114 before Oliver Hairs was caught reverse sweeping off Kirby.

Liam McKendry (21) helped add 48 for the third wicket as the home side looked well placed on 162 with 15 overs left.

With the total on 197 and both Leaning and Ryan McKendry going well, York chose to take their power play, and it proved their undoing. The five-over period realised 27 runs at a cost of four wickets.

McKendry (22) was first to go bowled by Graham Hume. Leaning, who passed 1,000 runs for the season during his innings, had just celebrated reaching his century when his next ball failed to clear a leaping Osmond at short midwicket off Fred Lumby.

Alex Collins fell to the same combination, and Osmond took his third catch dismissing Simon Lambert this time off Graham Hume as York slipped to 220-7.

Tom Pringle managed three fours before he was caught, giving Lumby a third wicket, and Graham Hume also picked up three.

Woods took ten from Hume’s final two balls, including a pull for six through square leg as York finished on 254-9.

Osmond hit 108 from just 66 balls in the previous round so there was delight among the fielding side when he swung across the line and was bowled by Jake Murphy for just seven. But then Kirby and Yaniv Judah formed a useful partnership of 76, aided by an indisciplined display in the field which contributed 20 extras.

The visitors were beginning to dominate until a good running catch by Leaning at deep midwicket gave Woods the first of five wickets as Judah departed for 33.

The pressure steadily built as Kirby and Tom Keast were kept in check by the accuracy of York’s spinners, and when Pringle caught Keast off McKendry for 21 and Kirby (60) sent a return catch to Woods the visitors’ resistance was effectively ended.

Rory Osmond (36) was the only other visiting batsman to reach double figures as the last five wickets perished for 46 runs, Woods finishing with 5-35 from his nine overs.