YORK’S bid to regain cricket’s Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy was thwarted by a sensational knock from former Yorkshire all-rounder Gary Fellows.

The 32-year-old smashed an unbeaten 142 to help his Wrenthorpe side eclipse York’s 252 in the semi-final at Clifton Park.

The hosts, who won the trophy in 2009 and lost in last year’s final to Scoles, batted first after captain Dan Woods won the toss.

The innings faltered early on in the face of some accurate bowling from Tom Glover (2-35).

The seamer bowled his allocation of ten overs straight through from the start of the match, accounting for Duncan Snell (17) and Alex Collins (16). In tandem with Joe Ellis, he pegged York back to 77-3 from 20 overs.

Oliver Hairs struck 47, including eight fours, before being trapped lbw by Luke Patel with the score on 113. Andy Tute (27) was the main contributor to a partnership with Nick Kay (75no) which moved the score along to 149 before he was stumped.

Wicketkeeper Jonathan Smith finished with three dismissals, his last a catch to make the score 156-6 after 35 overs.

Tom Pringle (47no) joined Kay and the pair added an unbeaten 94, with Kay passing the half-century mark from 75 balls.

Thanks to the pair’s running between the wickets – almost half their runs came in singles – the innings closed on 252 from 50 overs.

Fellows led his side’s response from start to finish, taking full toll of some wayward bowling from York’s seam attack, which resulted in 53 runs coming from the first six overs.

In contrast, the home side’s spin trio managed to keep their visitors in check and Woods trapped Eric Austin lbw with the score on 36.

David Paynter (25) added 53 with skipper Fellows before being stumped off Pringle (2-42).

Fellows passed his century from 102 balls, including 12 fours and a six, before the next wicket fell. Again it was Pringle who struck, Patel (36) top-edging a sweep to Jake Murphy.

That left 67 needed from the final 15 overs, but any thoughts of a fightback were dispelled as Oliver Whittaker (23) and Fellows raced to the target, hitting 13 fours in only seven overs.

While York were exiting the trophy, title rivals Rotherham won their outstanding Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League fixture to close the gap at the top to four points.