Yorkshire Beat Kent in CB40
Monday 9th May 2011
Andrew Gale made a century as Yorkshire got off the mark in Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A with a resounding 93-run victory over Kent at Canterbury.
Skipper Gale's superb 112 from 114 balls proved the mainstay of his side's excellent total of 254 for seven. After a flying start, he went on to lay great foundations for a big total with an innings that included 11 fours and two sixes and left the Spitfires with a mountain to climb.
In reply, Kent could muster only 161 in 31.4 overs as Adil Rashid picked up 3-30.
Having elected to bat, Yorkshire had 73 on the board after 10 overs. Jonathan Bairstow set the visitors on their way with a rapid 26, which included a pulled six off a free hit from Azhar Mahmood.
Adam Ball struck twice in as many deliveries either side of a maiden from Mahmood. The fifth over ended with Darren Stevens pulling off a spectacular catch to see the back of Bairstow, then Adam Lyth was caught behind first ball to make it 40 for two.
However, Gale and Joe Root’s third-wicket partnership of 124 in 21 overs set a platform that allowed Yorkshire’s middle order to throw the bat.
Gale deposited a Matt Coles free hit over midwicket for six and clubbed James Tredwell’s second delivery back over the bowler’s head for another. He brought up his fifty, from 61 balls, with a four straight down the ground off Stevens.
Gale went on to score his second hundred in one-day cricket, which came off 105 balls, when he pulled Coles to the straight midwicket boundary, although not before an ill-judged reverse-sweep ended Root’s responsible innings of 43.
Had they not lost four wickets in the closing overs and Richard Pyrah, who retired hurt after being struck on the right knee by Coles, Yorkshire could have put the game totally beyond Kent’s reach.
After Gerard Brophy fell leg before for 28 and Tim Bresnan was bowled trying to lift Coles over mid-on, Gale eventually perished attempting a third run to Ball at deep square-leg.
Needing 255, Kent were soon in trouble, losing Sam Northeast and Martin van Jaarsveld to successive Ryan Sidebottom deliveries in the third over. Northeast went caught behind and van Jaarsveld cut the former England seamer high to third man.
Seven overs later, Rob Key chipped Tim Bresnan to midwicket. Alex Blake was the next to go, caught behind reaching for a ball from Rashid.
Shortly after sweeping David Wainwright for six, Stevens charged Rashid and was bowled for 39 to leave Kent 101 for five.
Two balls after Kent took the batting powerplay, Bresnan sent Geraint Jones’ off stump cartwheeling. In the next over, the hosts’ fading hopes of victory expired with the departure of Azhar, who holed out at deep midwicket.