YORKSHIRE batting ace Jack Leaning steered York to a seven-wicket victory over Scarborough in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League.

Leaning hit the winning runs to finish unbeaten in the 90s for the second Clifton Park clash in a row, his 93 not out following a knock of 94 not out against Appleby Frodingham a fortnight ago.

Scarborough totalled 198-6 from their 55 overs with Andy Simpson making 94 after winning the toss, but league leaders York eased to victory with 26 overs to spare.

On the hottest day of the season so far, with both Darren Harland and Ashley Lyth missing from the line-up, Chris Grey was promoted to open with Simpson.

The pair made a watchful start. Grey began with a particularly defensive mindset, facing 20 balls before scoring his first run.

At the other end, Simpson was only slightly more positive as opposite number Daniel Woods began with three maidens.

It was not until the 25th over and with the score on 70 that Grey began to take on the bowling.

Back-to-back boundaries off Ryan McKendry and Leaning, plus a six off Woods, got him to a deserved 102-ball half-century. His skipper reached the same milestone only 14 balls quicker.

The introduction of Tom Pringle forced both batsmen back on the defensive but it was fellow spinner McKendry who struck the first blow, leaping high to his left to take a return catch from Grey (68) with the score on 130.

Mark Tennant, having waited almost 40 overs to bat, lasted only 11 balls before being bowled by Pringle.

Samrat Sharma was then caught low down at backward point by Leaning as visitors lost three wickets in space of five overs.

Simpson forged a useful stand of 43 with Theo Smith, taking the total on to 191.

Having made 157 when the sides met on the opening day of the season, Simpson looked odds-on to reach three figures again but, on 94, he was trapped lbw by a full length ball from Pringle.

Woods picked up the wicket of Thomas Precious before Pringle bowled Smith to finish with figures of 4-51. York openers Duncan Snell and Leaning dominated from the off after tea.

Only 12 overs had been bowled when Snell (45) hit Sharma straight to Grey at mid-off, but already the total had reached 90.

Oliver Hairs (15) hit the same bowler for three boundaries in an over before top-edging Sam Carver through to the ’keeper.

A perfectly executed cover drive brought Leaning his half-century but his partnership with Liam McKendry ended on 75 when McKendry was caught at mid-off with only eight required for victory.

However, Leaning saw York home and they head the table by nine points from Yorkshire Academy.

Yesterday, York lost by two wickets at Drakes Huddersfield League side Hoylandswaine in the semi-finals of the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy.

York batted first and made 318-6, with Liam McKendry hitting 101 and Snell 78.