THE final season of the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League began in dramatic fashion as York were edged out by four runs against visitors Barnsley.

At 168-7 the Clifton Park hosts looked to have blown any chance of chasing down Barnsley’s 247, but a maiden Yorkshire League half-century from Richard Love (60) took them to within sight of victory and a valiant effort from debutant Tom Brooks (44) almost got them over the line.

Having chosen to bat, Barnsley began well before Jonathon Trower (20) edged a rising ball to Adam Whatley at slip off Chris Burn.

The visitors raced to 94 inside 17 overs before the next wicket fell, Alex Collins taking a good catch low down at square-leg to dismiss Matthew Wilson (28) off the bowling of Ryan McKendry. Skipper Nick Kay then had Azeem Rafiq caught at mid- off by Charlie Elliot in the next over.

McKendry and Tom Pringle gained a measure of control with 80 runs coming from the next 22 overs, with wicket-keeper Brooks picking up his first victim, stumping Zohaib Ahmad off McKendry for 24.

Pringle was rewarded for his efforts when Nuttall (30) was trapped lbw, but it was spinner Simon Lambert (4-26) who finished with the best figures. Brooks claimed two more stumpings as Barnsley lost their last five wickets for 24 runs.

Lambert and Whatley’s brisk start brought 45 from seven overs before Ahmad picked up wickets with successive balls. Whatley (20) edged a rising ball to Jason Booth at slip and Liam McKendry went to the same combination straight after. Joe Ellis bowled both Lambert (28) and Collins as the hosts slumped to 65-4.

Ryan McKendry and Richard Love posted a 50 partnership but McKendry (46) was forced to depart having edged to keeper Tom Shaw off Ali Jahangir with the score on 136.

Ahmad returned to the attack with the wickets of Kay and Elliot, but a stand of 59 for the eighth wicket between Love and Brooks breathed life back into the contest.

Love reached his 50 off 100 balls but, with 21 required from the final five overs, he was bowled by a ball which nipped back in from Ellis.

Pringle went lbw in the same over but then Brooks took 11 off Ahmad’s final over and five wides reduced the target to five. However, attempting to clip the ball to fine leg, he was bowled by Ellis off the first ball of the next.