While York kicked their heels, picking up just six points from two abandoned matches, Castleford turned up the heat.

In the only fixture to beat the weather on Saturday they won the toss in a game reduced to 25 overs per side and raced to 149 before being bowled out with the last available ball. It had not been a comfortable innings with only opener Steve Sacks (22) mastering the conditions early on as Castleford slumped to
88-7.

But then No 8 batsman William Hodson cracked two fours and a six in making 30 in 24 balls and combined with Simon Tucker (22) to put on 46 valuable runs.

Barnsley never managed to keep up with the required run rate despite the efforts of Alex Morris (21), Jason Booth (26) and Greg Batty, who hit two sixes in his unbeaten 32 made in 20 balls.

Opening bowler Chris Young (3-37) and captain John Randerson (3-15) managed to keep the scoring down and Barnsley were still 35 runs short of victory with just two wickets left at the close.

Yesterday, Randerson turned run maker with 56 and with David Murphy grabbing 45 off 20 balls, including two sixes and seven fours, they set Appleby Frodingham a target of 217-9. Another three cheap wickets from Young helped dismiss the home side for 173 and take Castleford's weekend points tally to 14.

Richard Pyrah and Steve Patterson were the stars of the show as Driffield crushed Hull, the visitors' fourth defeat in a row and the second week running they have been dismissed cheaply.

Pyrah hit 19 fours and two sixes in his 145 and linked up with Mark Tennant (48) for a third-wicket stand of 130 before Driffield declared on 272-5. Then Patterson produced a devastating 12.4 over spell of 7-16 as Hull were skittled out for just 37.

Alex Welsh (3-25) and Nathan Smith (3-22) helped bowl out Sheffield United for 121 before Simon Guy (66no) saw Rotherham to a nine-wicket win.

Alex Gosney (43no) and Luke Townsend (43) top-scored as Doncaster set a target of 236-9 which proved far too good for Barnsley who were bowled out for 145. with four balls to go.