CHAMPIONS York Cricket Club opened their bid for a record seventh Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League title with a nail-biting 14-run victory at Scarborough.

Scarborough captain Andy Simpson and York’s Alex Collins both made centuries as the sides combined to score 600 runs from 110 overs at North Marine Road.

York chose to bat first, and new opening partners Duncan Snell and Jack Leaning settled quickly to post 57 for the first wicket inside 15 overs.

When Snell was out, Oliver Hairs contributed 41, from 28 balls, to a 60-run partnership before he departed. Liam McKendry and brother Ryan were out without reaching double figures as the visitors slipped to 136-4.

Yorkshire prospect Leaning posted his half-century off 79 balls with four fours and, with Collins, he added 66 runs in 11 overs to push the score past 200 before he was out for 69 on debut.

Tom Pringle (26) and Collins put on 86 for the seventh wicket. Collins passed his half-century from 51 balls, and took only 26 balls for his second 50 as he closed on 103 not out and his side reached 307-7.

York debutant Matthew Hodsdon then claimed two wickets in his first two balls, but Scarborough recovered from 4-2 thanks to 157 from Simpson and 85 from Ashley Lyth to close on 293-8.

Ryan McKendry took 3-58.