T20: Ross Whiteley's 91 too good for Yorkshire
Tuesday 14 July 2015 23:32, UK
Ross Whiteley smashed an unbeaten 91 off 35 balls as Worcestershire beat Yorkshire by 74 runs, in the latest NatWest T20 Blast at Headingley.
The victory secured Worcestershire their spot in the quarter-final draw, while all but eliminating the White Rose county.
Whiteley's onslaught included two fours and 11 sixes, to help his team reach 191-6 at the end of their 20 overs.
At one stage they had been 63-4 in the 10th over and struggling to set any type of competitive total.
In reply, the hosts slumped to 117 all out with 18 balls still to be bowled. No Yorkshire batsman reached 30 as they slipped to a seventh defeat in 12 outings in the North Group.
Match winner Whiteley teamed up with opener Daryl Mitchell to put on 61 in six overs for the fifth wicket, a partnership which dramatically changed the course of the match.
Bowlers Karl Carver, Will Rhodes, Glenn Maxwell and Ryan Gibson all suffered at the hands of Whiteley, while Mitchell fell one run short of his half-century after taking an uncharacteristic swing at Liam Plunkett and was bowled. His 49 came off 45 deliveries.
Whiteley cruised past his previous best T20 score of 84 not out before the hosts put on 27 in their opening three overs.
However, it all fell apart for them after that losing all 10 wickets for 90 runs off 84 balls.
Elsewhere, in the South Group, Geraint Jones top-scored with 40 on his 39th birthday as Gloucestershire won a low-scoring game against Hampshire.
The former England wicketkeeper's steady hand guided the home side to their target at Cheltenham with five wickets and eight balls to spare.
Hampshire were asked to bat first and were all out for 116 from the final ball of their allotted overs as Craig Miles (3-25) spearheaded a fine home display in the field.
Benny Howell also contributed, his 2-15 including a double-wicket maiden that did for James Vince (32) and Adam Wheater.
Howell (31 no) also played a key role with the bat as he and Jones shared 61 having come together with their side's run chase faltering on 44-4.
The all-rounder saw Gloucestershire over the line after Jones fell to Vince having hit two sixes in his 30-ball innings.
