Academy bosses do battle in ECB clash

YORKSHIRE Academy coaches past and present were in opposition at Barnsley where the current incumbent, John Blain, finished on the losing side.

His predecessor, spinner Richard Wilkinson, bowled 20 overs, including six maidens, and took 7-63 after former Academy batsman Gary Ballance had plundered a century off his old club. Blain scored 36.

Ballance paired up with opener Matthew Wilson in a second wicket stand of 142, with Wilson making 61. Another former Academy player, Azeem Rafiq, hit an entertaining 40 not out off 33 balls as Barnsley amassed 252-6 and won by 79 runs. Wilkinson's seven wickets took his tally for the season to 82, so he needs eight more in Barnsley's final match, at Sheffield Collegiate to equal the record set by Harrogate's James Stewart in 1999.

The win ensured Barnsley will be runners-up to York.

Andy Simpson took his total of league runs for Scarborough this season to 1,086 with his fifth century of the campaign before being caught and bowled by York's Dan Woods who took 4-79 and now has 79 wickets for the season. Simpson and Kunwar Bansil (48) put on 121 for the second wicket and Scarborough totalled 236-7, but unbeaten York recorded a seven-wicket win. Duncan Snell hit 103 not out and Simon Mason made 65.

Joe Root (73) and Nick Gaywood (62) enjoyed a century opening partnership for Sheffield Collegiate who ended three successive defeats with a 46-run victory at Castleford.

Hull have had a dismal season but they are finishing with a flourish. A run of 14 defeats has been followed by wins over Harrogate and their latest opponents Appleby Frodingham.

Matthew Wilkinson's century and a half-century from captain Dave Barrick set up the 81-run victory.

Rotherham Town captain and opening batsman James Moorehouse hit 16 boundaries in an innings of 118 against Sheffield United. Moorehouse had a fourth-wicket partnership of 161 with Nathan Smith whose 89 contained 11 fours and a six. Chris Page grabbed 5-31.

Inconsistent Doncaster Town lost at Driffield Town by three wickets and Harrogate made it seven successive defeats as they were sunk by six wickets at Cleethorpes.