York edging ever closer (From York Press)

York edging ever closer

9:18am Monday 31st August 2009 in

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OPENER Duncan Snell fired a magnificent century to inspire title-chasing York Cricket Club to victory over Sheffield United in the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

Snell’s 121 helped the visitors, looking for a third successive league title, reach 243-5 on a slow pitch after being put in by United.

However, leaders York could only claim six points towards their tally as the home side closed on 183-9, a result which allowed Yorkshire Academy to creep to within two points at the top after a complete win over Scarborough.

Dan Wilson, chasing 53 runs to set a new Yorkshire League record run tally for the season, was out for only ten and Simon Mason made one before Snell put on 92 in tandem with Ashley Hulme (40).

Nick Kay (30) and James Wackett (19) then helped Snell move the score along rapidly before the centurion was out in the last over.

The opener faced 169 balls and hit 13 fours and three sixes for his knock.

United were given a fine start by openers Asrar Qadoos (30) and Neil Longhurst (73), who put on 99.

However, after Longhurst was second man out they lost seven wickets for 25 runs.

That left last pair Tom Knight and Nazakat Khan to hold on grimly to a point with an unbroken last-wicket stand of 18.

The spinners took seven wickets between them, with Hulme claiming 3-42, Daniel Woods 2-57 and Wilson 2-30.

York host Harrogate today aiming to take eight points and set up a potential title decider against the Academy at Clifton Park on Saturday. The Academy are at Appleby Frodingham today.

Scarborough’s defeat by the Academy all-but rules them out of the race, as they now trail York by ten points.