York Cricket Club's dream of a Yorkshire ECB Premier League champions title was shattered at Savile Park when Castleford won by four wickets.

Both sides finished level on points and victories and York were allocated third place by virtue of one less defeat.

Both Cleethorpes and Harrogate had easy victories over Driffield and Doncaster respectively, but the Lincolnshire club won the title as they had more wins to their name, although some would believe that Harrogate should have taken the spoils because they bowled the opposition out more often than their rivals.

York lost the toss and batted first on a pitch that proved responsive to the new ball and lost Steve Piercy early. Simon Mason and Rob Flack buckled down to a steady partnership but both left along with Marcus Wood within nine overs and York found themselves at 90-4 with 22 overs left. Dave Catlow and Dan Broadbent put together a lively 74 runs which enabled York to earn a fighting total of 210.

York's victory prospects appeared golden when Flack claimed three wickets in as many overs, but John Randerson and 17-year-old David Wainwright had different ideas. First by dour defence and then with increasing rnterprise, they lifted Cas out of danger before Broadbent claimed Wainwright with a quicker ball. York hoped this would be a signal for their spin attack to make inroads, but Eddie Rosa struck a fluent 50 until he and Randerson fell to Jeetan Patel in the same over with 27 overs remaining for victory, which Castleford reached without further loss and 14 balls to spare.

Updated: 12:10 Monday, September 15, 2003