David Miller returned to bludgeon the Yorkshire side to an opening Champions League victory after earlier being forced from the field when struck by an Umar Gul bouncer. He finshed unbeaten on 39 and Adil Rashid hit a career best 36 not out as the White Rose county began life in the big time with a 5 wicket win.

(PHOTO: David Miller is dazed after being hit by an Umar Gul bouncer)

MATCH ZONE

CLt20 MATCH REPORT

David Miller returned to bludgeon the Yorkshire side to an opening Champions League victory after earlier being forced from the field when struck by an Umar Gul bouncer. He finshed unbeaten on 39 and Adil Rashid hit a career best 36 not out as the White Rose county began life in the big time with a 5 wicket win.

Man of the Match Rashid and hero Miller showed all of his talent to get the job done. Miller's hard hitting, tenacity and bravery were all in evidence as Yorkshire got off to the perfect start in Qualifying Pool B.

When welcoming him back to the team hotel yesterday Paul Farbrace suggested that Miller was Yorkshire's Lionel Messi. Barcelona would be a world class side without their Argentinian maestro, but Messi is the cherry on top.

It seemed a rather unfortunate comparison when Miller, on 22 not out, aimed a hook at an Umar Gul bouncer which resulted in the South African being floored with blood pouring from his nose. The 23-year-old, due to fly back to play for the Dolphins tonight, has had to delay his travels and will undergo a scan. He looked very messy indeed.

It was an unlucky thirteenth over for the Tykes when Miller eventually returned groggily to the Yorkshire dressing room. He finally made his way back to the dugout and sat with and ice pack to the left side of his face. Miller later revealed on Twitter: "Thank you everyone for your messages ... Just a slight fracture to the nose, but all good."

He returned at the fall of the fifth wicket, Dan Hodgson who made a tidy 18 on debut, with 18 needed from 12 balls. Miller wasn't interested in hanging around, smashing Munaweers for three consecutive boundaries to ensure a positive result.

Earlier, Andrew Gale had taken 11 off the opening Jacob Oram over but was stumped when trying to hit Munaweers over the top, but Phil Jaques (32 from 21 balls) was in sublime touch and ensured a dynamic start. Joe Root had glided a legside four and pulled a six but played one shot too many when skying Jayampathi to McDonald at midon.

When Jaques drove a return catch to Munaweera Yorkshire were 66-3 in the eighth over. Gary Ballance was bowled first ball and the match swung. Miller batted sensibly until his injury when the score was 91-4 in the 13th over. It was a moment that threatened to hand the game to Uva Next.

But Adil Rashid played beautifully and, alongside Hodgson, added 42 before Milller returned to steal the headlines.

After 28 degree temperatures throughout Yorkshire’s preparation in Johannesburg Andrew Gale’s side were welcomed by weather more akin to a poor day in Leeds ahead of their opening encounter with Uva Next.

Yorkshire won the toss and bowled first and didn't quite reach their usual high standards in the opening overs. Uva were 42-0 at the start of the sixth over, but lost the dangerous Munaweera (22) when he was caught by Miller off the impressive Moin Ashraf. Rajapaksa (24) was bowled by Rashid.

Andrew McDonald had smashed 70 from 25 balls in Uva's warmup match against Hampshire and was seen as a key wicket. You could see what it meant to Azeem Rafiq when he saw Ballance take a cool catch at long on. The off-spinner sunk to his knees and punched the turf.

Shiv Chanderpaul (27) edged a delivery from Steve Patterson, Jacob Oram (8) found the hands of Ballance at long on and Jayasinghe (3) crunched a full toss straight to Miller at deep midwicket. Uva had lost four wickets for 27 runs in 27 balls.

Kandamby drove Uva on with an unbeaten 29 from 22 balls, but Uva Next's final total of 150-7 always felt within Yorkshire's reach. Getting there however was not without incident.

Today was the day it felt like the South African journey had truly started. A win against Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow will ensure it lasts a bit longer.

One thing is for sure - it's fantastic to see the Yorkshire lads pitting their wits against the world's best. They certainly don't look out of place.

JAMES BUTTLER

In South Africa thanks to sponsorship from:

LEEDS CITY COLLEGE

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 MATCH PREVIEW

Yorkshire begin their Karbonn Smart CLt20 campaign on Tuesday (12.30 start UK) with a match against Sri Lanka champions Uva Next at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Both sides make their first Champions League appearance as the Tykes welcome back David Miller for just one game before he returns to play for the Sunfoil Dolphins, his South African franchise.

Miller last wore the White Rose on 25 August when his magnificent 72 stole the show in Cardiff but didn’t quite secure the Friends Life t20 crown as Hampshire grabbed the silverware.

AUDIO INTERVIEW: David Miller back wearing the White Rose

Yorkshire will be expected to field the same XI as featured against the Sialkot Stallions in the 23-run warmup win on Sunday with Miller replacing one of the middle-order batsmen.

UVA Next are a Sri Lankan cricket franchise, based in Badulla, that won the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) in July after beating the Nagenahira Nagas in a rain-hit final in Colombo. A strong side they have Umar Gul (Pakistan), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Jacob Oram (New Zealand) and Aussie Andrew McDonald at their disposal.

Oram starred with the ball in Uva’s crushing 6-wicket warmup win against Hampshire on Sunday and McDonald was devastating with a 25 ball 70 as the Sri Lankan’s ran out victors with a massive 43 balls to spare. Hampshire were certainly below par however, but Andrew Gale’s men will have to produce their ‘A’ game if they are to start their tournament with a win.

Uva’s spin department boasts the off-breaks of  Sachithra Senanayake and Seekkuge Prasanna’s leg breaks.

Chris Gayle had been due to captain UVA in SLPL but injury meant he couldn’t participate so the team was captained by Thilina Kandamby. UVA Next have in their ranks a handy blend of Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand firepower to call upon.

The other team making up qualifying Pool A is Trinidad & Tobago who Yorkshire play at Centurion on Wednesday.

Uva Next Squad: Thilina Kandamby (capt), Fawad Alam, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dilhara Fernando, Umar Gul, Charith Jayampathi, Chintaka Jayasinghe, Andrew McDonald, Dilshan Munaweera, Jacob Oram, Seekkuge Prasanna, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sameera Zoysa, Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga