Little changed at the top of the Yorkshire ECB Premier League with York beating Hull and Harrogate snuffing Castleford's remaining hopes of a late run to take the championship.

York's five-wicket home victory over the Humbersiders seemed a regulation success but it was not without banana skin scares along the way.

Choosing to bat, the Hull openers, Andy Simpson and Matt Wilkinson, set off at five an over. Even the loss of Wilkinson to a loose shot off Dan Broadbent did not slow the pace as Andy Kirby joined in a run fest that took the visitors to 157-1 with 20 overs left.

York skipper Marcus Wood turned to Nick Kay, wicketless in an earlier spell. In his first over he justified his 'golden arm' reputation by inducing a catch from Simpson to wicket-keeper Nigel Durham.

Simpson had batted with unruffled authority and his dismissal proved the turning point as Kay shortly claimed Kirby and Sam Fuller, both to Durham catches standing up.

Dan Broadbent joined the party and Hull lost their last seven wickets for only 41 runs as Durham claimed his fourth victim with a stumping off Kay.

York's reply was soon in trouble with Broadbent and Michael Sheedy gone in the first three overs and Kay not long after.

Simon Mason found a staunch ally in Duncan Snell and they put together a stand of 101. Mason powered on to a 20-boundary century passing the 1,000 League runs mark at 36.

Wood took over Snell's mantle and, with Rob Flack, saw York through to victory with 11 overs to spare, thereby setting up what appears to be a title play-off encounter when Harrogate visit York on Bank Holiday Monday.

Hull: Simpson c Durham b Kay 71, M Wilkinson c Kay b Broadbent 36, A Kirby c Durham b Kay 41, Fuller c Durham b Kay 6, b Kirby c Sheedy b Broadbent 11, D Wilkinson c Mason b Broadbent 16, Voros c Snell b Broadbent 7, Simpson lbw b Kay 0, Waterland lbw b Broadbent 0, Gray not out 0, Robson st Durham b Kay 0, extras 21, Total (all out) 216.

Bowling: Thornicroft 4-0-24-0; Snell 3-0-17-0; Kay 16-6-41-5; Broadbent 23-4-80-5; Bell 8-1-35-0.

York: Sheedy lbw b Voros 5, Broadbent c A Simpson b Voros 0, Mason c Voros b A Simpson 109, Kay c D Wilkinson b Voros 8, Snell run out 29, Wood not out 36, Flack not out 13, extras 19, Total (5 wkts) 219.

Bowling: Voros 13-3-51-3; A Simpson 10-1-36-1; Robson 10-2-43-0; M Wilkinson 5-1-33-0; J Simpson 7-1-25-0; Fuller 1-0-12-0.

Updated: 11:53 Monday, August 22, 2005