HEAVY rain denied York Cricket Club the chance of making any inroads into Barnsley's lead in the Oxbridge ECB Yorkshire Premier League on Saturday.

York were hoping that victory over Yorkshire Academy would move them closer to the South Yorkshire side, but they were frustrated by a tea interval downpour at Clifton Park.

York had done half the job by bowling the Academy out for 251 in exactly 55 overs - a target the home side felt was within their scope, but the heavens opened and York didn't get a chance to bat, leaving both sides with three points each from the abandonment.

Adam Lyth (65) and Greg Wood (22) put on 63 in 68 minutes for the third wicket after Nick Thornicroft had got rid of the Academy openers.

Nick Kay bowled an accurate spell with his line and length keeping the visitors quiet but former St Peter's School student Jonathan Bairstow, son of David Bairstow, cracked a rapid 62 and added 58 for the fifth wicket with James Morgan.

The rest of Saturday's programme was ruined by the downpours though Sheffield Collegiate managed to beat leaders Barnsley.

York toppled Scarborough by 13 runs to reach the League Knockout final against Barnsley at Clifton Park on Sunday, September 10. Full report and pictures in tomorrow's edition of The Press.

York v Yorkshire Academy Yorkshire Academy: A Shahzad lbw Thornicroft 29, C J Batchelor lbw Thornicroft 0, A Lyth c Durham b Kay 65, G Wood c Bartram b Bell 22, J Bairstow c Flack b Bell 62, J Morgan c Kay b Piercy 27, C Fletcher b Piercy 10, N Nayeed st Durham b Piercy 6, G Norton c Wood b Bell 15, J Finch c Piercy b Thornicroft 2, O Hannon-Dalby not out 2; extras 11. Total: 251 (55 overs).

Bowling: N Thornicroft 12-0-57-3, T Bartram 4-0-28-0, R Flack 6-0-32-0, N Kay 13-4-33-1, M Bell 13-0-66-3, S Piercy 7-0-27-3.

Match abandoned: York 3pts, Yorkshire Academy 3pts.