Yorkshire are now in the realms of still being able to qualify for the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40-over competition by mathematical possibility after a 3 wickets defeat to the Derbyshire Falcons at Chesterfield.

(PHOTO: The players line up in tribute to Don Wilson who died on Saturday)

MATCH ZONE

MATCH REPORT

Yorkshire are now in the realms of still being able to qualify for the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40-over competition by mathematical possibility after a 3 wickets defeat to the Derbyshire Falcons at Chesterfield.

On a day where the sun shone and a fitting tribute was given to the late Don Wilson, Yorkshire were below their recent high standards.

Iain Wardlaw gave the Tykes the perfect start was they defended 238-7 when he took Khawaja's edge with his third ball and saw the catch taken by Jonny Bairstow.

Chesney Hughes hit Starc for a couple of boundaries but the Aussie laughed last when he bowled the left-hander for 20. Wardlaw struck again as Wes Durston (15) skied a pull to Starc at short fine leg and when Starc bowled Dan Redfern (5) Derbyshire were 55-4 in the eighth over.

Richard Johnson was dropped on 1 off Starc and 8 off Wardlaw by Azeem Rafiq at point and at the other end the Falcons skipper Wayne Madsen had certainly not given up on the points. But he chipped a return catch to an impressive Adil Rashid and was gone for 40 after adding 67 in 12 overs with Turner.

Jonny Clare swiped Moin Ashraf over midwicket for six and Derbyshire needed 106 from 19 overs at just under a run a ball. Clare fell for 13 when he edged Rashid to Jaques at slip and the leg-spinner was enjoying his most productive afternoon for some time.

Johnson, on 48,  was given another life when he scooped Rashid up on the off-side and Pyrah could only get his fingertips to it. Rashid took 2-36 from his 8 overs and it was good to see him bowling as we all know he can.

They were lives however that Yorkshire could ill afford to donate to Johnson who was backing up a good display with the gloves with an excellent knock. He reached his fifty from 54 balls with his sixth four. It was his maiden one-day half-century.

Derbyshire needed 55 runs from the last 10 overs. Yorkshire needed wickets and Gale rang the changes. Johnson struck Wardlaw straight for six and scopped a full toss from Pyrah over deep square for six more. 27 were needed off 6.5 overs.

Johnson slapped Wardlaw to Pyrah at short cover to give Yoorkshire hope. Ashraf dropped a very smart return chance and then Hughes hit over the top for four which was initially given as a run out. Pyrah, as square leg, lost the ball in the sun when Huighes was on 33.

It was all happening but then Hughes cover drove Starc for four and the FAlcons were home by 3 wickets. Hughes was 37 not out and Wainwright unbeaten on 7.

Earlier, Andrew Gale, back in the team after recovering from a hip muscle injury, opened the innings with Phil Jaques. Yorkshire had lost the toss and asked to bat first welcomed back the skipper who had missed the last two Championship matches and seven t20s.

The Yorkshire side wore black armbands, the flags above Queen's Park flew at half mast and the sides lined up for a perfectly observed minute's silence in memory of former Yorkshire and England player Don Wilson, who died yesterday.

Gale looked like he'd never been away. The first boundary came in the fourth over when he bludgeoned Tim Groenewald over mid-on. In the next he advanced and stroked Mark Turner through extra cover. Jaques soon struck some sumptuous fours of his own as the pair added 54 in 11.3 overs before the Aussie left-hander slammed a short ball from Jon Clare to Durston at mid-wicket, who took a great one-handed catch above his head.

Joe Root was in sublime nick as he raced to 33 in 25 balls before being stumped off Durston as Yorkshire reached the halfway stage at 104-2. Gale reached his fifty when he belted a Durston full toss high to midwicket where it was almost caught.

But he then stepped back to work the same bowler through midwicket and as he crossed for one it became apparent that the leg bail had been dislodge. It's safe to say the Yorkshire skipper was not convinced he had been the culprit, but after a chat with the keeper, he was on his way for 51, out hit wicket. It was a disappointing way to go after striking 5 fours.

Durston ended with 2-32 from his 8 overs and alongside David Wainwright (0-39) was restoring some Derbyshire control, but Jonny Bairstow deposited Wainwright over long-on for six in the 26th over and hit a longer straight maximum off Chesney Hughes in the next. Ballance deposited Chesney Hughes over midwicket a couple of overs later, before aiming big again and was dropped by Turner diving forward at long-on.

With 10 overs left the score was 150-3, but four balls after his escape Bairstow was clean bowled by the returning Turner and was on his way for 25.

Gary Ballance never fails to impress me, and the key to his development is that he now believes in himself. Alongside Richard Pyrah he added much needed impetus. He struck 47 in 42 balls with 6 fours and a six, but struck Groenewald to Madsen at mid-on just as he looked to be really boosting the Tykes score.

With 2 overs left Yorkshire were 212-5. Pyrah met the return of Clare with three successive sixes, two straight and one over mid-wicket. Rashid fell for 4 to the final ball of that penultimate over and Pyrah was caught by Madsen at long-off off Groenewald for 44 from 28 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes.

The final total of 238-7 was better than looked likely 10 overs out, but below par and on a pitch that was drying beneath sunshine we've all got used to doing without, Derbyshire had too much of a sniff.

JAMES BUTTLER in CHESTERFIELD

PREVIEW

We're back in Chesterfield hoping that the outfield will be dry enough to stage this CB40 match after the rain ruined LVCC clash ended in the frustration of watching the ground being unfit despite being bathed in sunshine on Saturday.

With the forecast for sunshine at Queen's Park, Chesterfield on Sunday, Derbyshire CCC are confident that a scheduled 1.45pm start will go ahead.

YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE SQUAD

Andrew GALE (capt), Phil JAQUES, Adam LYTH, Joe ROOT, Jonny BAIRSTOW (wk), Gary BALLANCE, Richard PYRAH, Azeem RAFIQ, Adil RASHID, Mitchell STARC, Iain WARDLAW, Moin ASHRAF and Steve PATTERSON.

Andrew Gale returns to the Yorkshire squad. The skipper had a match with Cleckheaton CC today and the team management are confident he will feature on Sunday and therefore be in contention to lead his side in the FLt20 quarter-final match against Worcestershire Royals on Wednesday.

MATCH PREVIEW

Most supporters seem to have given up on the CB40, but a glance at the table with seven matches to play suggests that Yorkshire are most certainly still in contention.

Success in the t20 format has proved Yorkshire have the firepower to compete in the one-day arena and a deficit of 4 points on leaders Warwickshire with a game in hand is not unassailable. The Tykes need a storming run in that format and that has to start in Chesterfield on Sunday.

JAMES BUTTLER