ADAM WHATLEY'S swashbuckling 47 helped York Cricket Club climb up to third in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB Premier League table.

It brought the Clifton Parkers their third consecutive win following a low scoring match at Castleford.

Torrential overnight rain left the Savile Park outfield damp and the wicket showing signs of moisture so it was little surprise that, on winning the toss, York skipper Nick Kay chose to bowl first.

His decision was borne out in the opening overs as Charlie Elliot, Chris Burn and overseas signing Whatley all caused the opposition batsmen problems.

Alex Romaniw and Luke Frankland were forced to adopt a defensive approach and, as a result, just 32 runs came from the opening 16 overs. Elliot conceded only six runs from his five over spell but it was Burn (2-15) who achieved the breakthrough.

He bowled Frankland and the same fate befell Dominic Sharp, shortly before which Tom Pringle deceived Romaniw into leaving a ball which cannoned into his stumps.

The spinner picked up his second wicket, with the total on 61, by trapping Charles Finan lbw.

David Wainwright made a century the last time he appeared against York so there was a mixture of jubilation and relief when he was given out lbw to Ryan McKendry for 22.

The first of two catches in the deep from Elliot then gave McKendry (2-21) a second wicket as the total limped to 90-6.

Andrew Chadwick, making his first appearance of the season for the home side, hit 20 before Chris Booth plucked an instinctive one-handed catch out of the air at mid on from the bowling of Pringle (3-35) to end his resistance.

From 104-7, Simon Lambert brought an abrupt end to the innings - taking the last three wickets while conceding only six runs as the hosts closed on 119.

York adopted an aggressive approach from the off, Lambert hitting two fours in the opening over, but he was overshadowed by Whatley, who struck 21 off Wainwright’s first two overs.

The loss of his opening partner, caught at mid-off with the score on 48 in the seventh over, did nothing to deter the big hitting Australian - 44 of his first 52 runs coming in boundaries as the scoreboard struggled to keep pace.

Booth’s innings was ended by a low catch at slip by Chadwick in Eddie Morrison’s first over but by the time Whatley departed, caught at the wicket in the 15th over, the total had reached 94 and the game was effectively over as a contest.

The cavalier approach adopted by York's middle order meant a further four wickets were lost before victory was secured.

Shutt finished with figures of 4-40 and Eddie Morrison’s 3-28 owed much to the athleticism of Wainwright, who took two excellent catches - both over his shoulder - running back from mid on.

Alex Collins remained 18 not out, the second highest score in the innings, and it was he who struck the winning boundary - a six - taking the total to 124 in just less than 20 overs.