Juggernaut bowling and fielding followed by chanceless batting saw Yorkshire Academy to an excellent eight-point 10-wicket victory at Doncaster in the Solly Sports ECB Yorkshire County Premier League before today's Cup semi-final at Weetwood.

Doncaster won the toss hoping that their batsmen would produce a match-winning total to lift them from the bottom of the table: the Academy opening bowlers thought otherwise - and soon had the first four contenders back in the hutch.

Felix O'Dell was caught at second-slip by skipper Alex Lees, pictured, off the bowling of Ben Coad, and Henry Chadwick caught Gareth Cox behind off Coad. Chadwick also accounted for Ryan Capstick off James Wainman – and a forward diving catch at cover by Eddie Wilson off Wainman showed how brilliant the Academy can be in the field.

33-4 did not bode well. The middle-order rallied slightly through Jamie Harrison, 14, Alex Gosney, 21, and skipper Nick Morley, 27, but George Ross dashed all hopes of recovery by returning the excellent figures of 3-20. Jack Leaning took two fine slip catches of Jonathan Moxon as Doncaster slumped to 120 all out.

Captain Lees and James McNichol saw off a steady opening attack without giving a chance. The target was reached with little trouble in 27.4 overs - Lees the more forceful of the openers with 84 not out in 101 minutes off 99 balls. McNichol proved a very good partner, and was 33 not out in 67 balls at the close.

A competent all-round display by an improving team and eight more points. The side must be looking forward to today's (Sunday) Cup semi-final against York at Weetwood.

Words and Statistics: HAROLD GALLEY