Durham defeat but qualification still possible

Yorkshire Carnegie lost their Twenty20 Cup clash against Durham Dynamos in the gloom at the Riverside tonight, as the game was abandoned due to bad light and rain.

The Tykes were 49-5 after ten overs in their pursuit of 163, and ended up losing by 39 runs on the Duckworth Lewis method.

Durham were powered to 162-8 by Phil Mustard's 37-ball 49 that included six fours and two sixes.

Richard Pyrah claimed 3-32 and Darren Gough 2-28 from their four overs to halt the Dynamos charge that had been 123-3. Durham lost five wickets in the last six overs.

Despite having late momentum in their fielding effort, the Tykes were under the kosh from the very first over when Adil Rashid, promoted to the top of the order, was run out for a duck.

Steve Harmison claimed 2-7 from two overs, while Shaun Pollock and Liam Plunkett both bagged a wicket each. BBC Radio commentator Adam Pope described the prospect of facing Steve Harmison in the gloom as like repelling a steamtrain with a twig whilst wearing a blindfold.

Jacques Rudolph finished 22 not out when play was halted in dangerously gloomy conditions for light drizzle. The rain got heavier as the evening progressed, and the umpires called a definite halt to the game.

England captain Michael Vaughan was left out of Yorkshire's eleven because the England and Wales Cricket Board want him to rest ahead of the Test series against South Africa next month.

Leicestershire Foxes did Yorkshire a huge favour by beating the Nottinghamshire Outlaws tonight. Carnegie, who are now fourth in the North Division, will almost certainly have to win their last two games to qualify for the quarter finals even though it is likely that one of the best third place teams will come from the Northern pool.

They face Leicestershire Foxes at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground on Thursday evening in a mathc that starts at 5.40pm.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Yorkshire Carnegie head to the northeast tomorrow for the crunch Northern Division Twenty20 Cup match.

After all the thrills, spills and match saving sixes at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground the venue changes, but the game is the same.

The Yorkshire Carnegie Twenty20 Cup campaign has been growing every game. Four wins in a row and the tied match on Monday, which included a Roses double has pushed Carnegie into the melting pot for a Quarter-Final place - but then everyone else keeps winning too!

It is not going to be easy. Durham Dynamos showed on Monday why they have been sitting on top of the Northern Division.

Darren Gough and the team would really appreciate your support.

PROSPECTS OF PLAY

The weather in Durham

YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE TEAM

Andrew Gale, Gerard Brophy (w/k), Anthony McGrath, Jacques Rudolph, Simon Guy, Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid, Richard Pyrah, Darren Gough (capt), Matthew Hoggard and Adam Lyth.

DURHAM DYNAMOS TEAM

Michael DiVenuto (23), Phil Mustard (w/k) (19), William Smith (2), Dale Benkenstein (capt)(44), Albe Morkel (81), Shaun Pollock (7), Gareth Breese (70), Liam Plunkett (20), Ben Harmison (14), Neil Killeen (77), Steve Harmison (10) and Gary Park.

CURRENT STANDINGS


Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Durham	7	4	1	1	1	10	+0.631	801/97.2	813/107.0
Nottinghamshire	7	4	2	0	1	9	+0.450	870/110.3	850/114.3
YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE	7	4	2	1	0	9	-0.213	1050/134.4	1076/134.2
Lancashire	7	4	3	0	0	8	+0.790	1052/135.3	967/138.4
Derbyshire	7	3	4	0	0	6	+0.001	881/125.0	841/119.2
Leicestershire	7	0	7	0	0	0	-1.378	917/140.0	1024/129.1

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available for the game:

priced at £12 if bought in advance from http://www.durhamccc.co.uk/ or 0844 499 4466
priced at £15 on the gate.