It was a game that both sides needed to win, but as the rain swept down onto Newlands from Table Mountain the much anticipated battle against the Mumbai Indians turned into a damp squib, but was a no result that Andrew Gale’s team can take a lot from.

The story within a story - which Yorkshire bowler was going to get the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar. Yorkshire’s first overseas player in 1992 put his best foot forward to Ryan Sidebottom’s third delivery and effortlessly stroked him over extra cover.  

But the Little Master’s wicket fell to a fielding combination of Gary Ballance and Dan Hodgson after a mix up with Dwayne Smith. From a cricketing point-of-view it was sad to see him leave with only 7 to his name.

The match was called off just before Mumbai Indians completed their innings, after being asked to bat first with a threat of rain meaning Messrs Duckworth Lewis could be in action later in the piece.

Mumbai Indians made 156-6 in the 17.5 overs possible and with Kieron Pollard hitting like a sledge hammer with a 20-ball 37 not out 180 or even 190 was possible.

The rain prevented any further play with it still pouring at 8pm when the officials finally drew a halt. The game needed to resume by 8.40pm for a 5 over Yorkshire reply, which tantalisingly would have been 52 runs from 5 overs with two of them being powerplays.

Both the sides got two points each from the no result and the Tykes now need to win against the Highveld Lions and Chennai Super Kings to progress to the semi-finals of the competition.

Opener Dwayne Smith hit a swashbuckling 37 after hitting Joe Root’s second ball long and straight and then slog-sweeping another six off the next. It stated Mumbai’s intentions early in the piece and with a side littered with big hitters and star names it looked to be a tough task.

But the Tykes battled hard and wickets fell each time it appeared the Indians were breaking free. Pollard was the only man to really blast throughout hitting 3 fours and 2 big sixes while donning a blue Mumbai beanie hat.

There were two interruptions for rain before the players left the field for the final time.

Adil Rashid and Azeem Rafiq grabbed two wickets apiece while Joe Root took one. It was an excellent ad hoc display after Ryan Sidebottom (cramp) temporarily left the field and Moin Ashraf (hamstring) never returned.

It saw Adam Lyth bowl nine stopgap balls and a fighting display that we’ve become very accustomed to this year.

Of course we’ll never know whether Yorkshire would have chased anywhere near 190 or even the 52 runs from 5 overs. What we do know is that they played one of the biggest sides in world cricket and made them sweat. It was good to see even if the change in weather is doing nothing for my tan.

JAMES BUTTLER

In South Africa thanks to sponsorship from:

LEEDS CITY COLLEGE

Proud to support Yorkshire cricket. Play Your Part! www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk

APPROVED FOOD AND DRINK

The biggest online seller of clearance food and drinks www.approvedfood.co.uk Twitter: @approvedfood

ENJOY DIGITAL

Website developer for Yorkshire County Cricket Club www.enjoy-digital.co.uk Twitter: @enjoydigital

SIMON FALK EYECARE

Optician to Yorkshire County Cricket Club www.simonfalk.co.uk Twitter: @sfalkeyecare

 MATCH PREVIEW

A lot has happened since Sachin Tendulkar became Yorkshire's first overseas player for the 1992 season. We've all got older, some have got wiser and Tendulkar has gone on to become the most gifted, prolific and successful batsman of the modern age.

To play against the Little Master is an honour that the Yorkshire lads have not taken lightly and to grab his wicket would be something none of the team would forget.

After the blistering defeat at the hands of the Sydney Sixers it's time for the Tykes to show some bouncebackability against one of four Indian Premier League franchises in South Africa who have not had everything to their liking so far.

Defeat for Yorkshire today would put pay to any lingering hopes of reaching the semi-finals but as Martyn Moxon said after Tuesday's loss it's a bonus to have reached this level after a successful summer and there are lessons to be learnt that will raise the bar at Headingley next year.

The match commences at 5.30pm South African time (4.30pm UK time)