Groves too quick for former team

FORMER Rotherham Town pace bowler Peter Groves tormented his old club by taking 7-45 in 12.3 highly effective overs for leaders York.

Gerhard Rudolph shone for Rotherham, including nine fours and a six in his 67. Simon Mason responded with a century containing 16 fours and two sixes and Liam McKendray struck eight boundaries in an unbeaten 52 for York.

Yorkshire Academy have struck a rich vein of form, winning their last five matches. They had four wickets to spare against Cleethorpes despite an excellent 94, containing 11 fours and two sixes, from Kiwi Peter Fulton, whose league total is 710 runs.

Gurman Randhawa, the league's top wicket-taker with 41, and George Ross took three wickets each as Cleethorpes fell for 173 in 54 overs.

Academy opener Alex Lees carried his bat for 83, the target being reached with 14 balls left.

Barnsley trounced visitors Doncaster by 10 wickets at Shaw Lane where Town won the toss, elected to bat and were sent back for 154 in 44.2 overs, spinner Richard Wilkinson taking 4-28 in 14.2 overs and Yorkshire fast bowler Oliver Hannon-Dalby grabbing 3-56 in 13. Barnsley openers Simon Widdup and Matthew Wilson carried their side to victory in 37.1 overs, Widdup making 89 and Wilson 56. Widdup hit the winning boundary, taking his league and cup tally to 1,000.

Harrogate bounced back from defeat at Castleford in the League Cup but they had only 16 runs to spare at Scarborough, whose last wicket pair held out. Vic Craven made an undefeated century for Harrogate and there were half-centuries from Alexis Twigg and Ryan Bradshaw.

Darren Harland made 82 in Scarborough's reply and Simon Tennant was 40 not out.

Sheffield United completed their first win since May 22 with a five-wicket triumph at Driffield. Rob Wade and Taneel Ali had half-centuries and figured in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 94 and Nazakat Khan took 3-28 in 10 overs for United.

Andrew Bourke hammered 127 containing 21 fours and three sixes and Alex Romaniw took 5-48 in Castleford's six-wicket win over Appleby Frodingham, while Nick Gaywood made 98 as Sheffield Collegiate won by eight wickets at bottom club Hull.