Tykes hang on for win

Andrew: valiant effort was in vain

Yorkshire Tykes got off the mark in the North Group of the Friends Life t20 with a thrilling two-run victory over Worcestershire Royals at Headingley.

The Tykes, who had lost their opening two matches in the competition, produced a solid team effort to post a total of 152-7 after opting to bat first.

Openers Andrew Gale (29) and Jonathan Bairstow (24) set the platform with a 40-run stand and there were further contributions of note from Anthony McGrath (21), Gerard Brophy (18) and Ryan Sidebottom (16no) lower down.

Pears all-rounder Gareth Andrew claimed 3-30 with the ball and then almost pulled off a remarkable rescue act with the bat.

Worcestershire looked dead and buried after slumping to 67-5 in the 13th over of their reply.

But Andrew slammed five fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 60 off 26 balls to bring the visitors right back into the mix.

He could, however, only look on from the non-striker's end as, with four needed off Ryan Sidebottom's last ball, Shaaiq Choudry (5no) mustered just a single.

Yorkshire seamer Richard Pyrah finished with 4-21 and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who opened the bowling, 3-19.

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Posted in: Tykes