THE spotlight will fall on York Cricket Club's bowlers tomorrow as they chase maximum points against Clifton Park visitors Driffield.

The reigning Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League champions have piled up the runs so far this season, but they have struggled to bowl sides out.

York's ability to take ten opposition wickets could be crucial in the final shake-up this season, with old rivals Barnsley claiming maximum points from all but one game.

On Bank Holiday Monday, York flayed the Yorkshire Academy bowlers at Clifton Park on their way to a total of 308-6 from 50 overs. However, they only took six points from the game after failing to take the last two Academy wickets.

Club secretary Nick Kay, who bowls first change, admits the club's bowlers need to raise their game. "Taking ten wickets has been a problem for us, particularly when the wicket is as flat as it is at Clifton Park," said Kay.

The club are missing former Yorkshire bowler Nick Thornicroft, who spearheaded last season's successful title push.

"Nick had an extra yard of pace, so he could beat batsmen on good pitches," said Kay. "The rest of us rely on a bit of help from the pitch.

"Nick's experience of bowling at county players is also being missed, but the young lads who have come in are doing a good job. It's just that Nick was a first-class cricketer."

Driffield have won only two of their seven games this season, but Kay is still wary of the threat posed by the East Yorkshire side.

"It will be a tough test for the batsmen, but they are also a good batting line-up," he said. "It's a game we don't want to be taking lightly. Last year, we didn't beat them too convincingly the first time we played them and then we were saved by the weather in the second game.

"But we are at home tomorrow and on our wicket the strength of our batting gives us an advantage straight away.

"Every member of the top seven has had a good hit and we are all in good form. If we play near our best, we should win the game."

Opener Duncan Snell returns to the side after missing the Bank Holiday Monday game and he replaces Robert Flack.

Driffield will be without in-form Yorkshire opener Andrew Gale, who is on county duty against Lancashire.

However, their bowling attack could include Yorkshire duo Steve Patterson, who took two wickets in the Friends Provident Trophy clash with Lancashire on Wednesday, and one-day specialist Richard Pyrah.