It was do-or-die for Andrew Gale’s men in a Wanderers cauldron as they took on the local boys, the Highveld Lions to keep their Karbonn Smart CLt20 campaign alive. The fact that they fell to a five wicket defeat with 4 balls remaining in a thrilling contest should not mask the quality of the Tykes display.

Fine margins often decide t20 matches and if this one had flipped in Yorkshire’s favour I was preparing to describe it as their finest victory of the season.

Playing without Ryan Sidebottom and Moin Ashraf, both sidelined with hamstring injuries, and with Phil Jaques not fielding after tearing a hip abductor muscle, it was a bare bones side that battled hard to remain in CLt20 contention to try and deny the Lions a passage to the last four.

There were only five Yorkshire players (Andrew Gale, Phil Jaques, Joe Root, Gary Balance and Azeem Rafiq) in today’s side that had also contested the Friends Life t20 final in Cardiff. But the spirit and determination was the same.

With only a run-a-ball required from the last 43 deliveries the partisan crowd were going wild in the aisles.

The required rate neared ten an over with two remaining, but Jean Symes, who was only 6 not out from 16 balls, cracked four boundaries to deny the gallant visitors. Yorkshire, Chennai and Mumbai all perish as a result.

Yorkshire had made 131 after losing the toss, but reduced the Lions to 31-2. Quinton de Kock released some tension with 2 fours and 2 sixes in his 32. He fell when he skied the last ball of the 13^th over to Dan Hodgson.

Yorkshire turned the screw with just one run coming in each of the 14^th and 15^th overs from Azeem Rafiq and Oliver Hannon-Dalby. Rafiq was brilliant, his analysis of 1-14 in 4 overs silenced the Lions roar, quietened the crowd and came after his first delivery disappeared for six.

Rashid was then hit for 14 by Dwaine Pretorius, but you don’t keep an animated Andrew Gale down.

Steve Patterson had Pretorius caught in the deep by Ed Wilson, subbing for Jaques, for 25 off 14. It was a tough running catch that was in the air longer than Wilson’s first team career, but the youngster held his nerve along with the ball.

Iain Wardlaw conceded three runs in the 18^th over and Oliver Hannon-Dalby conceded just one run from the first two balls of the 19^th, but then Symes put his foot down. 19 runs were needed off 10 balls and Symes hit over cover for six, inside edges Patterson for four and next ball drove hard for the winning boundary.

Yorkshire's batsmen played many an attacking shot but didn’t often make contact with the ball early on as they reached the end of the six over powerplay at 42-0. Alviro Petersen got Yorkshire's top-scorer Phil Jaques (31 from 29) as the opening stand reached 54 in 8.2 overs.

Pretorius accounted for Gale when a top edge was taken by the wicketkeeper, Joe Root swept Phangiso down deep square’s throat. Ballance (17) slashed Phangiso to short third man and Adam Lyth cracked Chris Morris to deep square the ball after sweetly hitting him over long-on for six.

Dan Hodgson, Yorkshire’s player of the tournament for me, was unbeaten on 10 after Rafiq perished to the final ball of the innings.

131 never felt enough, but it so nearly was.

Ryan Sidebottom (hamstring), Moin Ashraf (hamstring), Phil Jaques (hip), Miller (TBC), Azeem Rafiq (dislocated finger) are all doubts for the final game against Chennai Super Kings on Monday in Durban.

The Yorkshire squad are considering calling upon the services of Gurman Randhawa who is currently playing club cricket in Cape Town.

I may get a game yet!!  

JAMES BUTTLER

In South Africa thanks to sponsorship from:

LEEDS CITY COLLEGE

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 MATCH PREVIEW

The Highveld Lions are in their own den. They boast two wins from their three group B matches thus far and go into today's contest against the Tykes knowing that a victory will see them progress into the semi-finals of the Karbonn Smart CLt20.

But it's not all over for Yorkshire. A win for them against the Lions followed by a victory against the Chennai Super Kings in Durban on Monday will give them an unexpected semi-final berth just as everyone seems to be writing them off.

The Lions are fearsome opponents and alongside the already qualifed Sydney Sixers have stolen a march on Group B after conquering the threats of the Indiand Premier League's Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

The Lions have star names Zander du Bruyn and Alviro Petersen, but it is Aaron Phangiso who has made a real impact. His fielding and slow-left arm bowling has already accounted for Sachin Tendulkar. The 38-year-old's extraordinary catch, running and diving at full pelt, to dismiss Faf du Plessis was the best catch I've ever witnessed live.

But Jason Gillespie stated after the Mumbai Indians no result that if his charges played as he knows they can they have nothing at all to fear.

It's a huge game. Can Yorkshire silence an ardent local following.