A FIRST-CLASS test must be overcome by York Cricket Club if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the ECB National Club Championship.

Derbyshire Premier League champions Ockbrook & Borrowash come to Clifton Park on Sunday for a last-16 encounter and they boast key players with experience at the top level of the domestic game.

Opening bowler Kevin Dean spent 15 years in county cricket with Derbyshire, taking 401 wickets in 119 matches with a best of 8-52, while new skipper Jake Needham, 25, has also played in the County Championship – playing 19 matches and scoring 384 runs.

York booked their berth with a 34-run victory over Blaydon a week ago, seeing off the Tynesiders at the third attempt because of rain, and vice-captain Nick Kay stated that this weekend’s game is one everyone at the club is desperate to win.

“We know a little bit about them,” he said. “They have Kevin Dean, the ex-Derbyshire bowler, and their record in the Derbyshire League is very strong. Their captain has also played first-class cricket so they are going to be a strong side.

“They are coming to us and that is an advantage. Blaydon had to get used to our pitch and weren’t hitting as many boundaries and the pitch can always play a big part.

“As we have said in the past, this is a competition where we have never done ourselves justice and have always underperformed at these stages.

“The players are quite well aware of that and our top five or six are very keen to get the job done. If we perform with the bat, with our quality of spin bowling, we can be reasonably confident.”

Before York assume national guard, however, they travel to Sheffield Collegiate tomorrow in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League – hot on the heels of their seven-wicket demolition of Cleethorpes.

Now in fourth place, but still 19 points behind leaders Harrogate, the Clifton Parkers will demand victory against a Sheffield outfit boasting only one win of any kind this season.

Kay added: “If we have any reasonable ambitions of claiming a sixth title then we have to win every game left in the season. Every game is must win and I would be very disappointed if we slip up tomorrow.

“Our win last Saturday was our only one in June. All of our other games were rained off.

“If things go to plan then we are very confident.”

York will be without batsman Andrew Tute, who has returned to Acomb in division one of the Hunters York & District Senior League because of family commitments, while Kay is unavailable for York’s Sunday cup clash.

Skipper Dan Woods is hopeful of returning for that match, depending on his Minor Counties duties, while former captain Marcus Wood will definitely be in the side.

Elsewhere, promising batsman Charlie Elliot is now available for the Clifton Parkers for the rest of the season.