Friday, 27th June 2008

We're through! Twenty20 Quarters here we come!

Gerard Brophy led the way with a swashbuckling 57 as Yorkshire Carnegie thrashed Nottinghamshire Outlaws last night and grabbed a Quarter-Finals place in the Twenty20 Cup for the third season running.

It was a big night at Trent Bridge as the White Rose county lost only one wicket in eclipsing the home side’s 136-8. Victory came with two overs to spare - thanks to Brophy, Andrew Gale’s 45 and Anthony McGrath’s unbeaten 30 off 15 balls. 

Adil Rashid earlier took 4-24 in his four overs - becoming only the second Carnegie bowler to claim four-for in the Twenty20 Cup.

Carnegie now face a trip to Chester-le-Street to meet Durham for the Quarter-Finals in the week beginning Monday, July 7.

The Outlaws made a rapid start - reaching 30-0 in the fourth over - but fell away even though Australian international batsman Adam Voges top-scored with five fours in his 28-ball 39. Voges put on 44 for the third wicket with Samit Patel, 19, but otherwise only Chris Read boosted the total with three lusty last-over boundaries in his 30.

Yorkshire were unlucky not to have Voges run out on 12 when debutant off-spinner Azeem Rafiq was adjudged by the third umpire to have broken the stumps with his hands after Rashid’s accurate throw from the boundary edge.

Leg-spinner Rashid brilliantly recorded his career best figures, as he whipped out Voges, Patel, New Zealander Chris Cairns and Mark Ealham. Voges and Ealham were smartly stumped by Brophy, while Tim Bresnan, Matthew Hoggard and skipper Darren Gough all picked up a wicket.

Gale and Brophy wasted no time in recording Carnegie's highest opening in Twenty20 history - 99 in 14 overs. Gale hit 45 off 48 balls, as Brophy brought up his half century in 38 balls, with six fours. Brophy was the killer...but Gale pushed down the accelerator as he thumped Patel over mid-wicket for six. McGrath lashed two fours and a six off Rob Ferley to finish the job.

Gough said afterwards: "That was probably one of the best games we have played this season, although we played extremely well at Old Trafford. Adil was brilliant. I thought his first over he tried to bowl a little bit too quick, but for someone of 20 years old to come back like that was all credit to him."

Yorkshire face Durham in the County Championship at Headingley on Sunday.

GRAHAM HARDCASTLE