Yorkshire secure semi spot

McGrath scores 70 as Northamptonshire slip to defeat

Last updated: 1st September 2010  

Yorkshire secure semi spot

McGrath: Crucial 70

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Yorkshire are guaranteed a place in the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 after beating Northamptonshire by four wickets at Wantage Road.

Anthony McGrath made 70 to guide the visitors towards their target of 205 as Yorkshire recovered from a poor start to seal victory.

Rob White was the top-scorer for the Steelbacks with 61 as they struggled to 204-8 from when batting first, with England bowler Tim Bresnan claiming figures of 3-40.

The hosts elected to bat after winning the toss and made a bright start with 40 runs being added before Steven Patterson (2-38) trapped Rob Newton lbw for 35 in the eighth over.

Debutant Robert Keogh (11) and Alex Wakely (17) then followed but David Sales managed to add 29 before he was pinned in front of his stumps by Rich Pyrah (2-43).

Yorker

Skipper Andrew Hall was then bowled for 16 by a Bresnan yorker but White did not depart before reaching his half-century, eventually holing out to Jonathan Bairstow at deep cover.

Bresnan then claimed two wickets in the penultimate over as James Middlebrook was bowled and Brooks smashed him to Pyrah at deep extra cover.

Yorkshire's chase then got off to a nightmare start when captain Andrew Gale was superbly caught by Keogh and Jack Brooks (3-41) dismissed Adam Lyth for a duck to leave the score on 10-2.

But opener Jacques Rudolph (54) and McGrath then put on a vital stand of 90 to put the visitors in command.

Yorkshire wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy made 26 before throwing his wicket away while Bairstow hit three fours in his 25 from 19 deliveries.

McGrath finally departed as Hall (1-50) dislodged his off stump in the 38th over but by that time it was plain sailing to the line and a place in the last four.