Thursday, 21st August 2008

Carnegie tie with Phantoms after dramatic Pro40 finish

The strangest of games at The County Ground saw Yorkshire Carnegie win, lose and finally tie in the most dramatic of fashions against the Derbyshire Phantoms in the Pro 40. 

Rana Naved was imperious with the bat, clubbing the hosts attack for 74 from 58 balls, although he did have more than his fair share of luck after being dropped twice, once when on just 11.

Carnegie were put into bat after losing the toss and, Rana aside, Jacques Rudolph was the only one to make a big score as the South African almost effortlessly strolled to a half century before he was bowled around his legs by Nayan Doshi as the tykes strolled to 213 from 34 overs, the game shortened due to rain.

Rana was also inconsistent with the ball, going for  62 runs in his seven overs, 13 of which came in one over to allow the Phantoms to close in on an unlikely victory before he then excelled at the death to ensure a tie at least with the hosts massive favourites requiring just five from the final deliveries.

Simon Guy, behind the stumps for the first time this season missed a golden chance to grab a run out in the final over and the extra run proved costly in the end,  a scampered single from the last ball of the match sealing the draw. 

Earlier, after a slow start Rana’s innings sprung into life when he was dropped on 11 by Ian Hunter, the Pakistani responding to launch two sixes in the next over before he was dropped again on 42. Yorkshire ’s number three was finally held by Greg Smith although the damage, it appeared, had been done.

In reply, the hosts were briefly ahead of the required rate but haemorrhaging wickets and the runs slowed significantly after Chris Rodgers departure as the Carnegie began to squeeze the life out of the contest.

The hosts needed exactly seven an over from the final 19 as darkness closed in around Derbyshire they somehow recovered to stage an epic fight back fuelled largely by the brilliance of 18 year old Dan Redfern’s fifty.

YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE TEAM

Andrew Gale (26), Jacques Rudolph (24), Anthony McGrath (10), Chris Taylor (2), Adam Lyth (9), Adil Rashid (3), Richard Pyrah (27), Simon Guy (23)(wk), Rana Naved (25), Darren Gough (8)(c), Deon Kruis (5)

Derbyshire Phantoms take on Yorkshire Carnegie in-front of the Sky cameras on Thursday night (4.10pm start). Entry is priced at £14 adults and £7 juniors for the game which is televised on Sky Sports meaning for the presence of a big screen with action replays and the tension of third umpire decisions.

Entry after 6pm will be reduced to £9 (£3 car parking) for adults and £3 juniors.

The County Ground gates will open at 2pm and entertainment will be present around the ground including free face painting, joker entertainment, stilt walkers, a penalty shoot out competition and a skittle alley.