SPECTATORS at Clifton Park had plenty of excitement when York's Yorkshire ECB Premier League fixture against Barnsley ended in a tie with 137 runs for each side.

In truth, York were fortunate to emerge with a share of the points.

Their early order had failed to cope with the new ball and four wickets were down for only 32 runs by the 13th over.

Nick Kay and Rob Flack set about retrieving the innings but the final four wickets fell for nine runs to leave York on 137, which seemed well short of an acceptable total.

In reply, Barnsley proceeded steadily to 80-4 despite an early Flack wicket, a silly run out and two victims for Greg How.

With 24 overs to get 58, Barnsley seemed to be strolling home.

Then Aussie off-spinner Riley O'Neill claimed a wicket in his first over and, in the next over, England Under-19 off-spinner Dan Broadbent trapped Paul Benson lbw for nought to turn the match in York's favour.

Former Yorkshire staff wicketkeeper Matt Thewlis had other ideas. He hit O'Neill out of the attack until he played a rash shot to Broadbent and departed to a How catch.

Only 12 runs for victory with as many overs and three wickets seemed an easy task, but York stuck to their task and forced panic errors from the South Yorkshire batters to claim final parity, with Broadbent (4-43) the most successful bowler.

York operated well in the field, but on this showing they will need a more circumspect front order and a more resilient tail to give their bowlers the support they deserve.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, April 26, 2004