Man-of-the-match Anthony McGrath, above, plundered a career-best 73 not out to set up Yorkshire Carnegie for a thrilling 17-run win over Lancashire Lightning in the Friends Provident t20 Roses clash at Headingley Carnegie tonight.

McGrath’s brave effort, which contained five fours and four sixes and came off 50 balls, moved Yorkshire on to a competitive 155-6, and an ecstatic 10,200 crowd then saw them dismiss their Red Rose rivals with five balls to spare - Steven Patterson putting the result beyond doubt in the 18th over when he bagged three wickets as Lancashire made a desperate bid to reach their target.

Patterson, who opened the bowling, took a wicket with his first delivery which knocked back Tom Smith’s stumps. Lancashire had already enjoyed an escape as Paul Horton skied Tino Best high over the wicket-keeper’s head, and Jacques Rudolph was unable to hold on to a spiralling catch which was difficult to judge.

Horton and Simon Katich began to put Lancashire in control with a 40 stand before Herschelle Gibbs athletically ran out Horton to change the course of the match. The South African dashed up to the stumps to remove the bails with Horton unable to ground his bat.

From then on Yorkshire tightened their grip with excellent spin bowling from Adil Rashid and Azeem Rafiq - with Richard Pyrah refusing to give the batsmen anything loose. Rashid claimed the crucial wickets of Stephen Moore and Simon Katich in consecutive overs, and Rafiq had Nathan McCullum splendidly caught by Pyrah - who then comprehensively bowled Steven Croft to make it 98-6.

Lancashire wanted 55 off four overs but Best, who fielded and caught with far more success than he bowled, came back to send down a loose over in which he was slammed for 14 - including a four and a six to Gareth Cross.

Then three wickets in five balls for Patterson had the crowd roaring its approval: he had Cross and Mark Chilton caught on the boundary by Best and Rudolph off successive balls...Glen Chapple hooked him for six, but Patterson then caused the Lancashire captain to drive to Pyrah at long off, leaving Pyrah to finish things off by dismissing Sajid Mahmood.

Winning the toss, Yorkshire suffered two early setbacks as Gibbs gave Smith a gentle return catch in the second over and Rudolph was bowled by Mahmood for eight. Skipper Andrew Gale contributed a spirited 34 from 30 balls with four fours and a six, but it was almost solely through McGrath’s mature batting that Yorkshire reached a challenging total.

He batted with great care until the 19th over, when he went after Chapple and smacked him for two sixes, a four and a two to overtake his previous best score of 72 not out against Derbyshire at Derby two years ago.

This was a tremendous boost to Yorkshire’s chances of qualifying for the Quarter-Finals, and eased them off the bottom of the North Division table.

DAVID WARNER

Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIUDLEY

PREVIEW: A Roses clash of any description is always much anticipated, but when the sides meet today at Headingley Carnegie in the Friends Provident t20 it will undoubtedly be the biggest home domestic match of the season.

Both sides will be seeking to add impetus into their 20-over season and local pigeons have been advised to avoid the air space above Jacques Rudolph's throwing arm.

Today's match is only part of the attractions available to spectators with numerous events planned before the game starts and for the break.

The big theme of the day is Change 4 Life to promote Men's Health Week. The players will wear the bright yellow Change 4 Life shirt they donned against the Northamtonshire Steelbacks on Sunday and in the mid-innings interval the RAF Falcons will be parachuting on to the pitch.

The match starts at 5.40pm and gates will open at 3.40pm.

YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE SQUAD

Andrew Gale (capt), Jacques Rudolph, Herschelle Gibbs, Anthony McGrath, Gerard Brophy (wk), Jonathan Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Richard Pyrah, Tino Best, Azeem Rafiq, Steve Patterson, Ben Sanderson and Adam Lyth.

LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING SQUAD

TBA

TICKETS

Tickets are selling fast for today's clash and members are advised that they MUST book their seats in advance. Members will not be admitted in the normal way using their membership cards and must have a ticket which will have a seat number on it. This message only applies to members who have the FP t20 matches included in their membership package.

Advanced Ticket Sales - £15 Adult, £8 Concessions and £30 Family Tickets – to be available in person at the ticket office until 2pm on Thursday 17th.

Anyone wishing to purchase after 2pm on Thursday 17^th ,whether at the turnstiles or in the indoor cricket centre, will be at full price and family tickets will no longer be available. 

Cash turnstiles will be in operation at the Kirkstall Lane entrance and also tickets will be on sale in the Indoor Cricket Centre. Admission through the turnstiles on St Michael's Lane will be by ticket only.