YORK returned to action with a bang after an enforced three-week rain break in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League.

The reigning champions recorded an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Cleethorpes at Clifton Park on Saturday to move up to fourth in the table.

Despite not having played any league cricket since June 4, the home side’s bowlers were at their destructive best in dismissing the visitors for 83 in under two hours.

Then, following heavy rain and a concerted mopping-up effort, the batsmen raced to their victory target inside 15 overs.

The visitors, missing several of their key players due to injury, were led by stand-in captain Andy Ellis and he made the decision to bat first.

Glen Richmond, on debut, made a dream start to his Yorkshire League career when his fourth ball found the edge of Callum Robinson’s bat on the way through to wicketkeeper Steve Crossley.

Skipper Dan Woods shared the new ball with Richmond and took full advantage of a pitch offering assistance to his off-spin.

The first of his six wickets was that of Bill Kirby, his leading edge offering the simplest of return catches.

Inderjit Hayre (14) was bowled before Charlie Tomlinson played back and was trapped lbw by a ball that kept low.

At 33-4, the visitors needed to rebuild and Harry Clewett, who ended up top scorer with 19, provided a measure of stability.

The vice-captain had guided the total past 50 by the 19th over, but then was bowled by a quicker ball from leg-spinner Tom Pringle.

The first of two catches by Andrew Tute at first slip gave Woods his fourth scalp, and when he bowled South African import Graham Hume he had five and the total was 60-7.

Ian Mansfield marked his debut with a patient innings of 16, but could only look on as elder brother John was out lbw, playing back to another Woods delivery that kept low.

A torturous batting display was ended in Pringle’s 15th over when the second of Tute’s catches accounted for Mansfield. Three balls later Ellis was caught at silly mid-off by Oliver Hairs, the bowler ending with figures 3-21.

Woods’ return of 6-47 from 20 overs was his best display of the season to date.

Wary of the bad weather, York’s openers were in no mood to hang around and had scored 19 from the first four overs before heavy rain forced them back into the pavilion.

After an hour’s delay, play got back under way and Duncan Snell played the anchor role, finishing unbeaten on 25.

Liam McKendry (22) and Hairs (23) both perished ensuring the tempo was kept high as the rain threatened to return.

Fred Lumby picked up 2-8 but his efforts were in vain as York raced to a maximum eight points.

Meanwhile, York were 35-run winners over Blaydon in their round four ECB National Club Championship clash at Clifton Park.

Duncan Snell hit 51 in York's 175 all out, with Alex Collins making 31.