YORK booked their placed in the semi-finals of cricket's Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy with a 45-run victory over Drakes Huddersfield League champions Shepley.

The rain-affected match will best be remembered for the efforts of two youngsters. Shepley spinner Danny Wood took 4-30, but was ultimately outshone by York’s Charlie Elliot.

The teenager took 4-15 from his six overs having earlier finished joint-top run scorer with 27 to cap an excellent all-round performance.

Rain at Clifton Park delayed the start of the match and when play finally got under way at 3.30pm, the contest was reduced to 30 overs-a-side.

York decided to bat first and, on a tough afternoon for batting, Simon Lambert and Jack Leaning’s modest opening partnership of 35 ended up as the best by either side.

They looked to have weathered the early storm by seeing off the Shepley opening pair, brothers Craig and Danny Glover.

However, the innings stuttered once Leaning fell lbw to Liam Wiles for 18 and Lambert was caught for 25 reverse sweeping Wood straight to Josh Ardron with the score on 63.

Liam McKendry hit four fours in his 27 before being clean bowled by Craig Glover, but York’s middle order failed to come to terms with the difficult conditions in the face of some accurate bowling.

Only the efforts of Elliot gave the home side a glimmer of a chance as they posted a final total of 152-8.

Shepley opener Danny Wood blasted six boundaries in the opening five overs to race to 26 of only 18 balls.

Ironically, it was his destructive hitting against Glen Richmond which forced a rethink from York skipper Tom Pringle, prompting the earlier than planned introduction of Elliot.

The young seamer struck in his first over, keeper Liam McKendry taking a sharp chance standing up to the stumps to remove Wood, and in his next over he bowled opener Tom Denton.

Chris Burn also struck in his opening over, trapping Duncan Allan lbw for one.

Elliot added two more wickets and, at one stage, had figures of 4-8 from four overs, reducing the visitors to 47-5.

Josh Clarkson and Liam Wiles steadied things, lifting the total to 70 but, when Wiles holed out to Ryan McKendry at long-on off Leaning, the writing was on the wall.

Pringle picked up two late wickets as opposing skipper Danny Glover was bowled for 12, one of only three Shepley batters to reach double figures, and Clarkson was caught low down by a diving Richmond at mid-wicket having battled to 25.

Leaning picked up a second courtesy of a well-judged catch in the deep by Travis Ilka as the visitors' challenge faded.

York’s reward is a last-four visit to either holders Hoylandswaine, who knocked York out at the same stage last year, or Bradford League champions Cleckheaton.

 

• YORK Cricket Club trounced Sheffield United by nine wickets at Clifton Park in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

The reigning champions were desperate to pick up eight points at Clifton Park after Saturday’s game against Driffield was rained off.

Sheffield United were bowled out for 144 and Simon Lambert hit 67 not out and Liam McKendry an unbeaten 51 as York reached 145-1.