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NCL2 - Easy for Yorkshire

Monday, May 10 2004

A thoroughly impressive all-round performance by Yorkshire saw them comprehensively defeat Somerset Sabres at Taunton in the National League.

Somerset won the toss and duly inserted the visitors - a decision they might well have been regretting shortly afterwards as Phoenix skipper Craig White bludgeoned his way to 41 off just 27 deliveries to give his side a flying start.

The loss of White and pinch-hitter Chris Silverwood did little to curb Yorkshire's momentum as Wood and Lumb added a half-century partnership in a little over even time, but the real damage was done to the home side's chances later in the innings.

First of all a half-century by Anthony McGrath added solidity to the middle of the innings, then a late flourish by Tim Bresnan who smashed 49 off barely 27 balls elevated Phoenix to the dizzy heights of 284-9.

Simon Francis was the pick of the home bowlers, finishing with figures of 2-44, a far cry from the eight wickets he picked up in midweek, but a solid performance all the same. For Nixon McLean though, it was a day to forget as his nine over offering was plundered for no less than 71 runs.

If Bresnan with the bat was sensational, his contribution with the ball was no less significant in deciding the destination of the points. After Matthew Hoggard had nipped out Carl Gazzard with just 15 on the board, Bresnan placed Somerset most squarely on the back foot with a three wicket solo burst which saw Turner, Wood and Parsons all dismissed cheaply.

The introduction of Chris Silverwood into the attack effectively finished the game as a contest as first the dangerous Ian Blackwell tamely lofted him to McGrath, then the loss of Keith Dutch reduced Somerset to 101-6.

Opener Jamie Cox watched on as partner after partner headed back to the pavilion, then at last Andrew Caddick gave home supporters something to cheer about with a couple of slogs over long on for six. It was a forlorn effort, though, as first Caddick played all round a ball from Lehmann, then Cox departed for a fightng 69 when he was caught by Lumb off Richard Dawson.

When Dawson defeated the swish of Francis to have the batsman stumped, Somerset had been dismissed for 139, less than half of the victory target.

Yorkshire 284-9 (McGrath 58, Wood 51)
beat
Somerset 139 (Cox 69, Bresnan 3-31)
by 145 runs


Posted by Eddie