YORK pulled off one of their best wins so far when they stopped the Yorkshire ECB Premier League leaders, Sheffield United in their tracks on Saturday with a nail-biting one-wicket victory.

As the most improved side in the league, United had shaken off the 'chopping block' image by rising from the bottom of the table last season to the top place with Harrogate hard on their heels in second place.

But on Saturday both United and Harrogate plunged to unexpected defeats at the hands of York and Doncaster Town.

York's skipper Nigel Durham won the toss and put United in to bat for the first time this season and on a green wicket.

They reached 222-4 in 60 overs Jon Trower (53), Alexis Twigg (53), Martin Barlow (33) and David Airey (33no) all getting among the runs.

United's opening stand reached 84 in 94 minutes, former York batsman Twigg, escaping a catch behind by Durham off the second ball before going on to make a half century against his old team-mates.

United had put on 56 runs off the last ten overs leaving York the stern task of scoring nearly four runs an over.

Marcus Wood and young Steve Piercy put on 22 before Piercy was run out by a direct hit on his stumps with York's score on 22, but Wood was in vicious mood and went on to score a half century.

Simon Mason scored 74 and enjoyed a half century fourth wicket stand with Nash Stone (18), one of the highlights of York's winning reply being another half century partnership with Michael Mortimer unbeaten on 25 and his skipper, Durham, who played out of skin to score 37.

York bravely reached their target for the loss of nine wickets with two and a half overs to spare.

Harrogate's hopes of overtaking United were raised as their right arm medium fast opening bowler, Anthony Burton took six for 31 in 17 overs against Doncaster, who were bowled out for 153 in 54 overs.

But Doncaster's wicket did not suit the Harrogate batsmen as Darren Wyrill was their top scorer with 17 and 'Gate plunged to 96 all out in 38 overs.

John Proud went for a duck, with John Inglis making 10, rising Yorkshire star Vic Craven 14 and Peter Hepworth lbw for 9 and Harrogate were in real trouble.

Doncaster's bowling attack dominated with pacemanRichard Gilliatt taking 4-21, off-spinner Richard Dawson 3-26 and the medium pace of Peter Ellis claiming 3-27 to send Harrogate back to St George's Road to think again about their aspirations for the championship.

Doncaster regained third place in the league overtaking Sheffield Collegiate who did not have a league game.

Scarborough opener Mark Cowell continued his good form scoring a ton at Driffield where his side ran up 215-5.

His 111 came off 208 deliveries and included a dozen boundaries.

Rob Drury was Driffield's top scorer with 34 and Chris Clifford took 4-26 for Scarborough, the Woldsmen hanging on to their last three wickets to deny Scarborough maximum points.

The game between Yorkshire Academy and Cleethorpes at Castleford, was washed out yesterday.

The Yorkshire Inter-League Knock Out clash between the Bradford League and the Yorkshire League at Harrogate yesterday was also a casualty of the weather.