Academy end York’s long reign at the top

YORK’S magnificent seven-year reign as champions is over.

Yorkshire Academy lifted the crown for the first time with a seven-wicket victory at Cleethorpes, while York’s match against Sheffield United at Clifton Park was ended by rain.

The Academy have lost just two league matches this season, with one round of fixtures left, and after Cleethorpes were bowled out for 133 in 38 overs, opening batsman Elliot Callis struck a half-century containing six fours and a six. The Academy reached their target in the 20th over to take the full eight points.

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Matthew Fisher was the Academy’s most successful bowler, his medium-quick attack reaping 4-30 in 11 overs, and opener Harry Warwick made a defiant 34 for Cleethorpes.

Runners-up York reached 214-6 in 29.3 overs when their match against Collegiate was abandoned. York won the toss and decided to bat, Liam McKendry (69) and Dan Woods (43) adding 86 for the second wicket. Josh Varley took four wickets for Collegiate, but he conceded 85 runs in 9.3 overs.

Barnsley’s James Wainman had 11 fours and four sixes in his 105 – the first ton by a Barnsley player this season – and Zohaib Ahmad made an unbeaten 61, the pair adding 151 for the third wicket at Scarborough. However, after Barnsley had totalled 201-3 in 30 overs and Scarborough reached 57-3 in 13.5 overs, rain caused an abandonment.

At Driffield Town, Duncan Heath hit 104 for Appleby Froidingham, who posted 208-9. Driffield replied with 80-2 before the game was rained off.

Castleford’s home match against wooden-spoonists Sheffield United was abandoned after 16 overs with United on 45-2. There was no play between Harrogate and Doncaster Town.