Richard Pyrah claimed Yorkshire's first 4-for in t20 cricket as Yorkshire beat Durham by 3 wickets in the first ever t20 match to be played by the White Rose county in Scarborough. The victory keeps Yorkshire’s Quarter-Final hopes alive – just!

After claiming 5-16 with the ball, Man of the Match Pyrah returned with 17 not out, including a winning six to seal the win with three balls left.

The Scarborough ground got what it deserved. After working extremely hard over the last 18-months to upgrade and improve the North Marine Road facilities the Scarborough Cricket Club saw a 6,500 crowd watched an absorbing contest under better than anticipated weather. Everything clicked as the famous ground showcased it has a place in the future - if only the pesky greenfly had got the ‘perfect day’ memo.

Durham made 144-8 after Andrew Gale had won the toss and there was help for the Yorkshire seamers. Iain Wardlaw continues to make his mark with pace and bounce, but it was Pyrah who stole the headlines. He dismissed both openers as Phil Mustard (18) and Gordon Muchall both gifted catches to David Wainwright.

Wardlaw’s first ball was pushed for a single, but the return throw hit a pigeon in a homage to the soon to be returning Jacques Rudolph and allowed the second run. One wondered whether it was going to be ‘one of those days’ but the bowlers stuck to their task well. The pigeon survived but will need to be persuaded to field at mid-on again!

Ian Blackwell hit a high catch to Andrew Gale at extra cover off Ben Sanderson in his first appearance of the summer and Paul Collingwood miscued Pyrah to Adil Rashid at mid-off and Durham were 39-4.

Pyrah would then dismiss Dale Benkenstein (33) and Gareth Breese in consecutive balls and was close to a hat-trick, but was denied an lbw when Liam Plunkett got a faint inside edge onto his pads.

Durham’s recovery to 144-8 was thanks to South African David Miller who only flew into Leeds-Bradford airport at 8.30am the same morning after playing for South Africa A in Zimbabwe. He made 54 in 41 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes and his stand of 75 in 9 overs with Benkenstein left the game in the balance at the halfway stage. Miller threatened to break free but was caught cutting Rashid to Gary Ballance at backward point.

Yorkshire began quickly as Gale and Joe Sayers reached 42 in 5 overs. Sayers has enjoyed releasing the shackles in the shortest format as he crashed 2 sixes and a four in his 20 off 12 balls before being caught by Breese off Collingwood. Durham took the pace off the ball cleverly to restrict Yorkshire as Collingwood finished with 2-15 in his 4 overs and Benkenstein 2-14 in his spell.

Gale reached 34 in 19 balls with 5 fours and a six but fell to Plunkett. The middle-order had its customary wobble, but Ballance attacked sensibly until he fell to Chris Rushworth for 48. But Pyrah would have the last laugh as he hammered Mitch Claydon through the legside for 4 and 6 to secure the 5th Yorkshire win of the campaign as the Tykes ended 150-7.

If the match against Derbyshire is to allow Yorkshire to qualify it will depend upon results elsewhere in the interim.

JAMES BUTTLER in SCARBOROUGH

MATCH INFO

MATCH PREVIEW

It really is make or break for Andrew Gale's side at Scarborough on Sunday. Nothing less than a win against Durham Dynamos will keep their Quarter-Final hopes alive as the refurbished North Marine Road ground prepares itself for its first taste of Friends Life t20 action. The match commences at 2.30pm.

The Tykes will also have an eye on the game at Old Trafford where Lancashire take on high flying Notts. Lancashire are currently one point ahead of the Tykes with two games in hand.

It is between Worcestershire, Durham, Lancashire and Yorkshire for the two remaining Quarter-Final berths after Notts and Leicestershire have already confirmed their own progress in this year's competition.

All Yorkshire can do is beat Durham at Scarborough and hope results elsewhere go in their favour. A big crowd is expected at North Marine Road to cheer the White Rose county on. The match is followed on Monday with Day 1 of another crucial encounter at Scarborough - Day 1 of the LV= County Championship match against relegation rivals Worcestershire.

TICKETS

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the match, these are priced at £20 and £10.