White's milestone knock puts Yorkshire second

Ex-Yorkshire captain Craig White, right, settled Carnegie's nerves with a measured and unbeaten 69 as the visitors recovered from a shaky start to stroll to a seven-wicket victory in the make-or-break Friends Provident Trophy clash with Scotland Saltires in Edinburgh.

Chasing 194 to win, Carnegie were 17-1 when White made his way to the crease after Andrew Gale had been dismissed by the impressive John Blain.

Anthony McGrath was removed for five, and suddenly Yorkshire were in real danger of becoming the first side to lose in Scotland in this competition in two years.

There are times when you really need an experienced player to bed down and make big runs - and this was one of them. Craig did not disappoint as he wracked up a milestone innings.

He was given terrific support  by Jacques Rudolph and Gerard Brophy: Rudolph helped White to drag the game from Saltires in a stand of 94 before Brophy almost stole the show by racing to his half-century off 39 balls. He thrashed a six over deep-square, and followed it with a confident straight drive for four.

Earlier, Scotland edged their way to 193-8 after Carnegie won the toss. Opener Ed Cowan was top-scorer with 36 - but it was former Yorkshire paceman Blain's 26 from 35 balls late in the innings that helped to turn a weak score into a competitive one. Richard Pyrah deserves credit for his 2-30 from eight overs - but it was White and Brophy who made the biggest impact on the game, Brophy smashing Glenn Rogers away for four to wrap up the win with 16 balls remaining.

Lancashire lost to Durham, leaving the division wide open with Yorkshire second, but with only two points separating first from fourth a thrilling climax is on the cards.

STEVE CROSSMAN