Day four followed days two and three into the washout category as the umpires abandoned any hope of a resumption at 1.45pm. Both Derbyshire and Yorkshire take six points from the drawn match which saw just 95 overs bowled on Wednesday.

Derbyshire CCC are confident of starting the CB40 match on Sunday on time.

JAMES BUTTLER at CHESTERFIELD 

MATCH ZONE

DAY THREE MATCH REPORT

It came as no surprise after further heavy rain overnight when the umpires abandoned any chance of play on day three at Chesterfield. Such was the volume of water that fell that conditions were appreciably worse on Friday morning than they had been on Thursday. There is now a serious chance that Saturday's final day will also fall prey to this horrendous 2012 'summer'.

DAY TWO MATCH REPORT

Rain overnight and it continuing through the morning has left the outfield at Chesterfield soaking wet and ledf the umpires to abandon hope of play after their 11am inspection. They will inspect again at 9am on Friday morning to assess propsects of play for day three.

DAY ONE MATCH REPORT

On a day of fluctuating fortunes Yorkshire closed the happier of the two sides after the first day's play at Queen's Park in Chesterfield. Derbyshire have three first innings wickets left and are 84 runs adrift of Yorkshire's 219 all out.

Derbyshire began to prosper after Yorkshire lost their last seven wickets for only 44 runs.

Steve Patterson had Wayne Madsen (15) caught by Azeem Rafiq at point to reduce Derbyshire to 43-1, but there was precious little else for the Yorkshire contingent to cheer in this top of the table clash.

Steve Harmison misfired in his opening spell, bowling 5 wides and 2 no balls in his opening salvo of three overs.

Richard Pyrah struck with his fourth delivery when he uprooted Matt Linker's (33) off stump and Moin Ashraf bowled Usman Khawaja (9) as the Tykes fought back with Derbyshire 70-3.

Ashraf bagged Dan Redfern (9) leg before before Steve Harmison found some form. He had Jon Clare (1) caught behind with the last ball of his fourth over and with the first ball of his fifth he bowled a wide short ball which Wes Durston (16) chased and edged to Adam Lyth at second slip.

David Wainwright pulled Harmison straight to Ashraf at fine-leg. The Ashraf catch, excellently judged just inside the rope, to give the pace ace 3 wickets in 11 balls for no runs conceded. Harmison wasn't bowling at his best, but some bowlers don't need to to be a threat.

Derbyshire recovered from 105-7 to 135-7 at the close, but will need to bat well tomorrow morning to restore any equilibrium.

Joe Root and Adam Lyth opened with some authority as they both played crisp shots through cover as they survived the first half-an-hour without significant alarm.

Root, fresh from his standout double ton away at Hampshire last week was looking good again before squirting an uppish drive to Matt Lineker at gully off the bowling of Tim Groenewald for 16.  

Lyth had looked secure, but Groenewald got one to zip and lift to catch the edge and he was on his way for 19.

Jaques and Bairstow then combined. Bairstow clipped Groenewald for two through square and then drove beautifuly straight for four. Jaques had driven over cover to get off the mark. Clare dropped short to Bairstow who pulled hard for four more.

A local told me that Yorkshire would need 350 minimum after winning the toss and batting, but there were enough signs of help for the Derbyshire bowling attack to imagine that 300 or even 250 might prove competitive. 

Bairstow, on 27, survived a loud shout for caught behind off Jonny Clare, but umpire Peter Hartley was unmoved, but then when still on the same score though the right-hander inside edged Palladino onto his off-stump and Yorkshire were 94-3.

At an early lunch Yorkshire were 114-3 and Jaques and Ballance pushed their fourth wicket stand to 81 before Mark Turner, operating from the Pavilion End, took three quick wickets.

First Ballance (46) edged a shorter ball to Richard Johnson behind, Anthony McGrath edged to Wes Durston at first slip and Richard Pyrah was trapped lbw for 9.

Wes Durston's off-spin induced an injudicious hoik from Jaques. A steepling skier was well held by David Wainwright. Azeem Rafiq stepped to leg to play Durston through the off-side and poked a cut straight to Turner at point. Steve Patterson was dropped at slip off Turner in the next over.

Yorkshire had slipped from 175-3 to 185-7 within five overs. Harmison looked to counter punch, but shortly after smacking Turner for four behind point he skied Durston to Wainwright who spilled the chance. A six over wide-long-on followed from the Geordie import.

Steve Patterson was brilliantly caught one-handed to his left at first slip by Durston off the returning Groeneweld after the ninth wicket had added 34. Harmison was intent of smashing a few late runs but when he cracked Durston over the top he didn't get it cleanly and Watne Madsend took a catch running back to long-off.

Yorkshire had lost 7 wickets for 44 runs and although there is still help for the bowlers out there will not be happy with their afternoon's work.

One massive positive was that we saw sunshine and despite a heavy clooudburst just before lunch only one over was lost to the weather. Why can't all days be like this!

JAMES BUTTLER at QUEEN'S PARK, CHESTERFIELD

YORKSHIRE SQUAD

Phil JAQUES (capt), Joe ROOT, Adam LYTH, Gary BALLANCE, Jonny BAIRSTOW (wk), Anthony McGRATH, Richard PYRAH, Adil RASHID, Azeem RAFIQ, Steve PATTERSON, Steve HARMISON, Moin ASHRAF

Adil Rashid left out of the 12 in Chesterfield and George Ross is with the squad as 12th Man.

PREVIEW

Yorkshire embark on a huge week in their season with a visit to Chesterfield for back-to-back LV= County Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40 matches before the Friends Life t20 quarter-final against Worcestershire Royals at Headingley on Wednesday.

It is a pivotal period in a season where the side have shown huge promise. It is often said by Yorkshire personnel, “We’ve won nothing yet,” and while promotion in the County Championship, a first FLt20 Finals Day appearance and even CB40 success still beckon, we’re now entering the business end of the summer and this week is huge.

Derbyshire have stolen a march on the Championship’s second tier, building a lead of 25 points on Yorkshire. The counties still have both head-to-head legs of their Championship summers to play and a win in Chesterfield will see the Tykes strengthen their hold on second spot and haul Derbyshire back into view.

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.

And then to Wednesday. We’ve had ten years of hurt in t20 action. As one of only three counties to never make Finals Day, Yorkshire have completely underachieved, yet the performances this summer and in Barbados during pre-season have sparked a growing feeling that this could be our year. Worcestershire have never been to Finals Day either and this is a fantastic opportunity for both sides to break their duck. With David Miller and Mitchell Starc back in the Yorkshire fold for the last eight clash there is every reason to be hopeful.

GET YOUR YORKSHIRE v WORCESTERSHIRE FLt20 QUARTER-FINAL TICKETS HERE

A poor week and Yorkshire’s season looks less impressive. A week yielding three wins and the momentum that has steadily built this summer continues to push the White Rose to potential glory on three fronts.

One thing is for sure, Jason Gillespie, Andrew Gale and co will not be contemplating the repercussions of a disappointing week.

Positivity oozes from the squad, they will see the next few days as there chance to further their claims and, thus far, when they’ve been asked important questions they’ve responded with positive cricket.

Let’s take a deep breath and do it again.  

JAMES BUTTLER