Rudolph and Sayers put Gladiators to the sword

Interact

Discuss this story in the White Rose Forum

News categories

A splendid all-round performance by a young Yorkshire Carnegie side resulted in a crushing eight wicket victory over Gloucestershire Gladiators in the NatWest Pro40 match at Headingley Carnegie tonight.

It was only Yorkshire’s second win of the season in the competition, but it made sure that they will not finish holding the Division 1 wooden spoon.

Chasing a 173 target after their five uncapped bowlers had kept Gloucestershire constantly on the back foot, Yorkshire got off to a flying start through a faultless opening partnership of 121 between Jacques Rudolph, and Joe Sayers, second picture. Playing in his first NatWest match in three years, Sayers went on the attack in some style, matching Rudolph shot for shot - and by the time he was caught at the wicket attempting to cut he had rapped out 55 from 67 balls with seven fours.

Rudolph by then had completed his own half century - and when the Gladiators were overhauled with 8.5 overs remaining he had reached 72 from 91 deliveries with five boundaries. It was the South African’s fifth score of 50 or more in seven NatWest matches this season.

The only other wicket to fall was that of Adam Lyth, who was caught at backward point soon after blasting former Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson over mid-wicket for six.

Winning the toss, the visitors were soon in deep trouble against tight new-ball bowling from Ajmal Shahzad and Steve Patterson.

Shahzad struck first by clean bowling Hamish Marshall in his second over before Patterson weighed in by sending back Alex Gidman and Will Porterman in four balls.

Patterson and James Lee both finished with career-best one-day bowling stints for Yorkshire - Patterson claiming 3-35 and Lee 3-43.

Lee Hodgson captured his first two wickets for the county, while Shahzad and David Wainwright both bowled with commendable accuracy. The only batsman to make any real progress against the sharp attack was James Franklin, who hit 55 off 71 balls with five fours and a six, sharing a 70 partnership with Chris Taylor for the fourth wicket to prevent a complete Gloucestershire collapse.

DAVID WARNER

THE ASHES URN COMES TO HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE

Spectators at Thursday's match will have the chance to celebrate England's Ashes victory when the replica urn comes to Headingley Carnegie. The tour is part of the England and Wales Cricket Board's 'The Great Exhibition' campaign, which aims to inspire participation in cricket.

Visiting 10 counties throughout September, the MCC Ashes Trophy and Replica Ashes Urn visiting the grounds gives fans the opportunity to get up close and see the official replica urn that Andrew Strauss held aloft at the Brit Oval with the triumphant England team at the end of the npower Ashes Series.

Spectators will also be able to get their photograph taken with the urn.