Yorkshire Vs. Lancashire FLT20

Roses clash ends in thrilling tie.

Steven Croft's 42 saved a tie for
the visiting Lancashire side.

In a bittersweet affair, the first roses encounter of the season ended in a pulsating and tense tie, the first time in the competitions ten year history between these two rivals. Each side managed a competitive total of 152, which resulted in the teams sharing a point each, a finale that suited neither party given their respective starts to the campaign.

Yorkshire's innings was largely stagnant, with the consistent loss of wickets aiding to Lancashire's cause. Opener Phil Jaques made a sterling contribution, adding an unbeaten score of 66 and batting throughout the innings as he watched six other batsmen fall.

The next highest effort came from fellow opener, and captain, Andrew Gale (18) who was caught behind off Tom Smith's first ball of the evening. The middle stages of the hosts innings proved to constrict the total, as they limped to one hundred in the sixteenth over.

But by adding 42 from the last four overs, the Vikings were able to mount a respectable score and take the momentum in to their defence. The spin combination of Stephen Parry and t20 debutant Arron Lilley proved vital with neither affording more than a run a ball. In contrast the Lancashire seamers had an indifferent match, particularly Mitch McClenaghan (0-26) who remains wicketless since his five-for versus Nottinghamshire.

Despite the aggressive end to their opponents innings, Lancashire responded superbly, with Smith (35) in particular accelerating in the power play. Stephen Moore appeared to be supporting this effort, after smashing Ryan Sidebottom for six over deep mid-wicket, but his run-a-ball 12 proved insufficient of the occasion.

Smith soon followed to a great catch from Liam Plunkett, as Richard Pyrah (3-15) reduced Lancashire to 48-2. Pyrah then claimed the next two wickets, including the dangerous Australian Simon Katich (18) and Karl Brown (25) both of who were bowled by thirty-year-old.

With a sizeable portion of Lancashire's chances now gone, thanks to Pyrah's heroics, Steven Croft and Gareth Cross (8) were put under immense pressure, which was exacerbated by the ever-increasing run rate. The latter failed to get going, eventually playing-on to Plunkett, with 34 more runs still needed.

Suddenly the Lightning needed nearly ten runs per over and, now joined by Kabir Ali, much of the responsibility to do so fell at the feet of Croft. A valiant effort from the Blackpool-born all rounder saw him hit a top score of 42 from 28 deliveries, including a six in the penultimate over, meaning that ten runs were needed from an unnerving six deliveries.

A streaky four off of the second ball quelled the emphatic chorus of 'Yorkshire!' from the Western terrace, but a combination of singles and dot balls meant that three runs remained for victory, with a tie looking increasingly likely. With Croft on strike all three results remained possible but he was only able to manage a two, as the majority of the crowd showed their appreciation for an entertaining game of cricket.