YORK Cricket Club’s rivals will have to overcome an 18-point gap in the second half of the campaign to deny the Clifton Parkers an unprecedented fourth straight Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League title.

The reigning champions beat championship rivals Scarborough by 57 runs at Clifton Park on Saturday to reach the half way stage of the season unbeaten and boasting an impressive lead at the summit.

Surprisingly, Scarborough skipper Darren Harland asked York to bat on winning the toss.

However, Dan Wilson was soon out, caught off the bowling of former Zimbabwe international Piet Rinke for only five.

Number three Simon Mason then struck five boundaries in his knock of 21 before he also fell to Rinke.

Duncan Snell was the only one of York’s top seven batsmen to play a major innings, but he was dismissed shortly after reaching his half-century leaving the York total on 98-5 at the halfway stage.

Nick Kay and Marcus Wood were then out, leaving York struggling with the score on 129-7 with 19 overs still remaining.

Tom Bartram and Tom Pringle came to the rescue, adding 48 runs in 37 minutes before Bartram was caught for 24 attempting a big hit against off-spinner James Finch.

Pringle and Daniel Woods added a further 18 for the ninth wicket before Pringle was bowled for a valuable 38.

Nigel Durham made one of his rare visits to the crease and a further 20 runs were acquired by the last pair as York totalled 215-9 in their 55 overs.

Rinke returned excellent bowling figures of 5-45 in 19 overs, while Finch claimed 3-48.

Scarborough openers Andrew Simpson and Harland made a brisk start, putting on 24 before Harland edged Snell to Mason at first slip.

Kunwar Bansil joined Simpson and the second-wicket pair took the score to 89 before they both departed at the same total.

Bansil was caught off Pringle and Simpson was lbw to Woods for 40, the York spinners having relieved the opening pace attack.

Half the Scarborough side were out with the score in the 90s and Ashley Lyth, who made 29, and Finch, who got 16, were the only later order players to get into double figures as Scarborough were bowled out for 158 in 47.2 overs.

Pringle took 5-44 in 17.2 overs to complete a man of the match performance. Woods took 4-56 with his slow left-armers.

York will play either Scarborough or Scholes in the Black Sheep Champions Trophy final after easily seeing off Methley in a one-sided seven-wicket win at Clifton Park.

Batting first, Methley made 173-9 in their 50 overs with Tom Pringle taking 2-10, Dan Wilson 3-32 and Dan Woods 3-18. John Rickers was Methley’s star batsman with 39 not out.

In reply, York cruised to 174-3 from 27.5 overs – Simon Mason notching 79 and Wilson 49.