YORK won a high scoring and entertaining Yorkshire ECB Premier League match against Scarborough at Clifton Park by a mere four runs on Saturday.

This was no margin at all considering a match total of 532 runs on an excellent batting surface. Scarborough might only have themselves to blame as they conceded 41 extras whereas York's tidier out cricket only gave away ten extras, all leg byes.

Choosing to bat, York were given a great start of 79 runs in 16 overs by Steve Piercy and Simon Mason until the former was unfortunately run out. Mason went on to complete an excellent 82 falling to former team mate Rich Gilbert when a century was in the offing.

Nick Kay picked up the pace and skipper Marcus Wood was in punishing form with eight fours in a run-a-minute 46.

York's later batsmen failed to increase the tempo choosing to hit rather than stroke runs. Rob Flack was an honourable exception and his unbeaten 34 off 30 balls showed what a measured approach could deliver.

In reply, Scarborough also got off to a good start but lost key-man Aussie Clint Heron to a Kay catch off Flack.

York introduced their spinners Dan Broadbent and Riley O'Neill but the Seasiders skipper Darren Harland forged on with Dave Morris using his feet well to combat the spin. Their 78 runs stand in 51 minutes ended when Harland was bowled by O'Neill.

Soon after, Morris fell to a smart Durham stumping off Broadbent, and England Under-15 Adam Lyth suffered a similar fate after a very promising 46. Scarborough were left with the difficult task of scoring 72 runs off their last ten overs. Nick Tubbs tried hard to lift his side to victory, but the rate increased to 11 runs off the last over which proved a step too far but maintained the interest to the last ball from which a six would have secured victory.

York: S Piercy run out 17, S Mason ct Barlow b Gilbert, 82, N Kay ct Wilson b Barlow 28, M Wood, b Barlow 46, W Warne ct Heron b Barlow 1, D Broadbent b Gilbert 13, R Flack not out 34, R O'Neill b Barlow 4, G How run out 2, N Durham not out 0. Extras 41. Total 268-8.

Bowling: R Gilbert 13-1-54-2, T Patemen 7-1-26-0, P Beard 6-1-30-0, A Lyth 11-0-47-0, R Barlow 18-2-78-4.

Scarborough: C Heron ct Kay b Black, 39, D Harland b O'Neill, 58. D Morris st Durham b Broadbent, 33, A Lyth St Durham b Broadbent 46, G Pickup ct Durham b How 27, N Tubbs not out 34, R Barlow not out 17, Extras 10. Total 264-5s.

Bowling: R Carroll 6-23-28-0. R Flack 9-4-29-1. D Broadbent 22-0-95-2. R O'Neill 9-0-49-1. G How 9-0-53-0.

Updated: 11:30 Monday, June 07, 2004