Carnegie beat Falcons to stay top in CB40

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Jacques Rudolph, whose fluent 26 got Yorkshire off to the right start

Yorkshire Carnegie maintained their position at the top of Group B in the Clydesdale Bank 40, after a narrow 8 run victory over the Derbyshire Falcons. After losing the toss and being put into bat it was Jacques Rudolph and Adam Lyth who were once more in the runs for the Tykes.

Despite captain Andrew Gale falling for 27, the two of them put on 144 for the second wicket at Queen’s Park in Chesterfield. Their partnership was eventually broken in the 35th over of the match, when Rudolph was caught at mid-off by Chris Rodgers off Tim Groenewald for a magnificent 105. It means the South African has now passed 500 runs in the Clydesdale Bank 40 this season.

Rudolph’s departure was a blow, but Yorkshire had already reached 223 by the time he was ousted.

Jonathan Bairstow, promoted up the order to try and add some quick runs, was then clean bowled with the next ball, but Lyth continued on with Anthony McGrath. The in-form left-hander was finally out for 91, before McGrath added some vital late runs to finish unbeaten on 31 from 26 balls.

It meant Carnegie set the Falcons a mammoth 277 to win, but after Chesney Hughes fired a quick 54 there was plenty of hope for the home side.

With 10 overs left they only needed 93 to win – before some disciplined late bowling saw Yorkshire home. Steven Patterson picked up the big wicket of Wayne Madsen, who made 65, but with five overs left Derbyshire still only required 54.

Fortunately Ajmal Shahzad then bowled a superb 37th over, conceding only four runs, and eventually Tim Bresnan had to go for less than 24 from the final six balls.

He held his nerve as Derbyshire closed on 268-8.

Yorkshire Carnegie have now won seven of their eight games in the Clydesdale Bank 40 – next up is a clash with qualification rivals Gloucestershire at Headingley on Wednesday.