A MISERABLE batting display cost Castleford the chance to climb third in the ECB Yorkshire Premier League
.
Chasing just 117 against Yorkshire Academy on Saturday to secure a fifth eight-point haul of the campaign, John Randerson's men crumbled to 101 all out in less than 34 overs.
Academy skipper Azeem Rafiq did most of the damage with a bewildering 5
-12 return from 13 overs, seven of which were maidens.
Ben Sanderson picked up 3-30 to secure the lowly home side's first complete win of the season.
David Wainwright top-scored with 35 for Cas, with late defiance from Chavez Younes and Chris Young coming up short after both fell victim to Rafiq.
Young had earlier starred with the ball, taking 5-18 from 9.3 overs to help reduce the home side for 116. Club professional David Wainwright took 4-28 and skipper Randerson also took a wicket.
Castleford will play Altofts in the final of the Beaumont Cup at Whitley Bridge on Tuesday evening (5.45pm start) after routing Ackworth by 115 runs in their semi-final.
Guest player Andy Bourke - a former skipper at Savile Park - thrashed 63 off only 35 balls and overseas signing David Murphy hit 47 off only 17 deliveries as Cas amassed 243-8 from 20 eight-ball overs.
Pontefract Leaguers Ackworth were undone by Alex Romaniw, who claimed 4-30 from six overs to limit the reply to 128-6.
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