Monday, 2nd June 2008

Yorkshire Carnegie book FPT Semi-Final berth

Yorkshire came a step nearer getting retiring captain Darren Gough to a Lord’s final when they won their Friends Provident Trophy Quarter-Final clash with Gloucestershire.

The White Rose county - who chased down 202 with six wickets and 5.5 overs remaining at Bristol today - will find out who they play in the semi-finals after the draw was put back by 24 hours due to the postponement of the televised game between Kent and Somerset.

Left-hander Jacques Rudolph, who hit an unbeaten 53 to help to see off the Gladiators, said afterwards that he was not bothered who Yorkshire Carnegie play. Essex and Durham are already in the last four, while the other two sides meet at Beckenham today. Canterbury was unfit to host the game - which meant that Yorkshire’s Second Eleven four-day game at Beckenham had to be abandoned at lunchtime on Day 2.

See also Saggers robbed of 10-for on this newsline.

Rudolph said: “A Lord’s final would be a dream for everyone, especially Goughy. His body is taking the strain at the moment, and he would like to retire with a bit of silverware. Gough’s situation will have much more of an effect in the semi-final. The guys will start realising that if we can play that match well, then we can get Goughy to Lord’s."

England hopeful Tim Bresnan, left, took 4-31 from his 10 overs to help to bowl the hosts out for a below par 201 after Gough won the toss and elected to field.

Paceman Matthew Hoggard, returning after a three-week absence with a broken thumb, claimed his best one-day figures in any match since September 2002.

Matthew took 3-26 in his 10 overs - removing Hamish Marshall, Alex Gidman and Marcus North. His previous best of 3-25 from 10 overs was for England v. Zimbabwe at the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

Yorkshire actually reduced Gloucestershire to 50-6, and it could have been better still if Gough had not dropped Taylor on 12.

Taylor and Stephen Adshead, who hit 54 and 71, helped to get the hosts up to 201...but it was not enough.

Opening batsman and former captain Craig White set the tone for Yorkshire with 55, while Rudolph finished the game off.

Adam Lyth, 20-year-old left-hander, hit the winning runs - and claimed a one-day career best of 38 not out from 24 balls.

GRAHAM HARDCASTLE