Knight sends leaders spinning to defeat

CASTLEFORD'S stay at the top of the table proved fleeting as they were improbably brought back to earth by Rotherham Town.

It was a first victory of the season for Rotherham and a first defeat for Castleford, who lost by two wickets despite a fine all-round performance from Chris Young, who hit six boundaries in his 41 and took 4-27. Slow left-arm bowler Tom Knight was on top form, taking 4-25 in 12 overs.

York, bidding for a fourth successive title, replaced Castleford after a 66-run victory over Harrogate at Clifton Park. Slow bowlers were to the fore, Tom Pringle taking five wickets and Daniel Woods four for York, and Dan Craven removed five York batsmen. Alex Collins made the game's top score of 60 for the new leaders.

With Doncaster lacking key men Alex Gosney, Gareth Cox and Jonathon Redfern, Yorkshire Academy took advantage, winning by 81 runs to climb into second place. Opener Callum Geldart had 11 fours and two sixes in his117 as the Academy reached 241-7.

Doncaster struggled against Jack Hargreaves, John Blain and Gurman Randhawa, who each took three cheap wickets. Town were bowled out for 160 in 38.3 overs despite a 55 from Chris Spinella.

Peter Fulton, Cleethorpes' New Zealand all-rounder, was dropped twice on the way to 100 against Appleby Frodingham, who lost by 24 runs. Fulton hit 12 fours and three sixes, sharing a second-wicket partnership of 154 with Yaniv Judah, who made 74.

Duncan Heath led Appleby Frodingham's chase with 58 but they fell behind the clock.

Scarborough lost at home to Barnsley. A week after plundering a century at Cleethorpes, Simon Widdup struck 15 fours and two sixes in an undefeated 98 as Barnsley won by nine wickets.

Widdup had an opening partnership of 126 with Matthew Wilson, who hit six boundaries in his 33. Scarborough No 4 Mark Tennant made a half-century but Azeem Rafiq, Henri Londt and Richard Wilkinson kept them in check.

Hull remain without a win after losing by 66 runs at Driffield, for whom Joe Fraser and Rob Drury helped made half-centuries.

The Sheffield derby was won by United, who defeated Collegiate by 52 runs. Luke Shutt (54) and Kieron Dinnage (48) took United from 112-8 to 213-8 and Collegiate fell for 161.