Left-hand spinner Gurman Randhawa, above, top-scored with 28 - and then weighed in with five wickets - as Yorkshire Academy scraped home by nine runs against Castleford in the Solly Sports ECB Yorkshire County Premier League.

Academy struggled after winning the toss and deciding to bat at Savile Park,and when skipper Alex Lees was run out by an excellent throw from Andy Bourke they were 42-5.

It was hoped that the later batsmen would dig in and reach a respectable total, but only Randhawa overtook the captain's 20, and seven batsmen failed to reach double figures.

David Wainwright picked up the last four wickets: he gave little away, bowling 20 overs for 29 runs, and 113 did look a great total to chase. Some injudicious shots and four lbws had not helped their cause.

Andy Bourke and Chris Young had an opening partnership of 32 for Castleford until Bourke fenced at Ben Coad delivery and was snapped up by wicket-keeper Barney Gibson. Young fell in similar fashion, and Wainwright was bowled by fellow left-armer Randhawa. Jack Hughes was introduced at the pavilion end, and Andrew Chadwick was another Gibson victim.

Suddenly Castleford were 79-6, and the pressure was on. Castleford skipper John Randerson fell to an excellent Lees catch off Randhawa, and an even better catch by Jack Hargreaves despatched Alex Romaniw. Chris Welburn was caught in the deep by Ashley Robinson, and Jason Pitcher, who had been excellent behind the stumps, was the last wicket to fall, bowled by Hughes.

An excellent team performance on a wicket that gave the spinners considerable help. Randhawa finished with the excellent figures of 5-33, and fellow spinner Hughes bowled 10.5 overs for a miserly 12 runs and three wickets.

Of 22 batsmen only seven reached double figures, but what a valuable 10th wicket stand of 28 by Coad, nine not out, and Ashley Robinson, 19. Another eight-point win for Academy.

Words and Statistics: HAROLD GALLEY