A SHOT at final glory beckons for York & District Under-11s in the Yorkshire Junior Cricket Festival.

The Minster city side cruised to a seven-wicket semi-final victory over Sheffield and they will now take on Heavy Woollen in tomorrow’s final at Spofforth.

A victory over Pontefract ensured York topped their group and qualified for a last-four trip to Sheffield.

York won the toss in the semi-final at Oughtibridge Cricket Club and elected to bowl.

A steady start by Sheffield took their score to 26 before Tom Tom Scott Masson claimed the first of his three wickets en route to excellent figures of 3-12.

Ben Richardson scored a fine 64 not out, but lacked support apart from Robert Hayes’ 20.

York’s fielding was of the highest quality, with outfield catches for Dan Toone, Sam Backhouse, Harry Griffiths and Chris Wood (two).

Sheffield finished on 125-8 as Griffiths claimed two wickets in the 30th over.

York had a bad start as Edward Ramsden was bowled with the score on seven.

A stand of 52 followed as Wood and Theo Smurden set about the task of chasing down Sheffield’s score.

Smurden was out for 24 in the 17th over and Isaac Giannini was run out for one, leaving York on 68-3.

Jamie Thornton joined Wood and the pair batted with some maturity, Wood passing the 50 mark and Thornton finishing on 29 not out.

They will now face a Heavy Woollen side who overcame Huddersfield in the other semi.

In the earlier Pontefract victory, York lost the toss and their opponents opted to bowl first.

Wood and Ramsden put on 71 for the first wicket before Ramsden was out for 19.

Wood then continued the good work before he fell nine runs short of what would have been a well deserved half-century.

Smurden and Giannini then took up the mantle and added 38 before Giannini became the first of two wickets for R Thompson.

Harry Watkinson joined Smurden and they continued to score at a good rate in adding 30 runs.

Smurden was bowled by Thompson for 45 and York finished on 164-5 after 30 overs.

Pontefract’s reply was dented early as Backhouse took the first wicket with the score on 14.

Four runs later, Giannini claimed a wicket to leave Pontefract at 18-2.

Skipper Thomas Brown took a wicket in his first over and went on to claim a further three victims to finish with figures of 4-10 from his allocation.

Toone claimed a wicket and Giannini finished with figures of 1-7 from six overs, with four maidens.

Pontefract stumbled to 70-7, leaving York winners by 94 runs.