And persistence paid off when Barber came good in Saturday’s narrow win over Sheffield United at Bawtry Road, first with an unbeaten fifty that held the Driffield innings together, and later with two vital wickets that helped to take the game away from Sheffield.

In a match reduced to 45 overs a side because of the wet wicket, Driffield struggled initially, slumping to 29-4 before skipper Mark Tennant (15) and Barber came together in a stand of 30.

And when Tennant departed, Russ Robinson (18) helped Barber add 40 that at least took the visitors towards the respectability of three figures.

There was later help from Tupper, Hardgrave and Ezard, but it was Barber’s 54 not out that proved the mainstay of Driffield’s final 141-8, giving Pyrah and co something to bowl at.

The Yorkshire seamer achieved the early breakthrough that Driffield needed, going on to reap a five wicket haul at a cost of just 24 runs from 15 tidy overs, reducing Sheffield to the wreckage of 69-7.

But number nine Adam Wilson (41) put up spirited resistance along with Devan Deppenaar (25) until Barber came along with his vital late breakthrough to account for both men, giving Driffield a sniff of victory. Sheffield’s last pair inched towards their target but at 137 Pyrah ran out Fletcher and Driffield were home.

The victory moved Driffield up a place to fourth from bottom, bracketed with Sheffield United on 40 points.

Driffield 2nds had the better of a drawn game against bottom club Scarborough in a match reduced to 48 overs per side.

Batting first the experienced Mick Drury (40) and Andy Inns (28) got the Woldsmen off to a solid start and with Chris Chapman chipping in with top score of 74 and Danny Broumpton hitting 46 and Mike Grice 26no, 230-4 looked a useful total.

Gary Pickup hit 30 for Scarborough but the visitors were always behind the run rate and finished on 177-7, giving Driffield 26 useful points. Rob Woodcock and Nicky Johnson both took three wickets.

Driffield fourths increased their advantage at the top of Division One of the East Yorkshire Alliance to 16 points with a game in hand as they demolished Humbleton to win impressively by 119 runs.

Skipper Shaun Walker led from the front with top score of 64 as his side posted 171, but any doubts about this being a winning score were soon dispelled as Jonny Anderson (3-18) and James Nesfield (4-8) got to work on the Humbelton batting, destroying them for just 52.

Driffield 3rds and Driffield 5ths both had no fixtures.