YORKSHIRE put themselves in a winning position and then let it slip to lose their Friends Provident Trophy Roses clash at Old Trafford yesterday
South African Francois Du Plessis hit a brilliant unbeaten 77 to give Lancashire a three-wicket win as he rescued the hosts from 76-5 in the 22nd over of a rain-reduced 45 overs chasing a Duckworth/Lewis target of 214 after Yorkshire made 204-7.
H
e notched his first limited overs 50 off 62 balls, with four boundaries and one six after two wickets apiece for Darren Gough (3-45) and Tim Bresnan looked to have done the damage early on in the hosts' reply.
Jacques Rudolph had earlier hit a fine 65, while Craig White made 42 not out to help Yorkshire recover from 58-4.
Kyle Hogg got the hosts off to the perfect start with his three-wicket burst to reduce Yorkshire to 44-3 removing Gerard Brophy, 18, Anthony McGrath (two) and Andrew Gale (20). Sajid Mahmood removed Adam Lyth shortly after.
But Rudolph set about rebuilding the innings in a fifth-wicket partnership of 81 with White. He hit three boundaries and one six in an 86-ball knock that was ended when he was bowled around his legs trying to sweep spinner Simon Marshall. No sooner had the South African left-hander departed, an unexpected hailstorm halted play for 95 minutes. When the match resumed, White was helped along by 21 from Bresnan.
Lancashire actually made a solid start to their reply, reaching 33 without loss but Bresnan's double strike to remove Mal Loye and Stuart Law began a decline.
Gough quickly snapped up Mohammad Yousuf and Steven Croft, the latter with a reflex caught-and-bowled effort, to leave the score at 46-4 and then left-arm spinner David Wainwright bowled Gareth Cross for 41 in his first over to leave it 76-5.
Du Plessis and Sutton put on a sixth-wicket partnership of 62 but they needed seven per over and appeared to be struggling until Hogg (31) joined Du Plessis to put on 57 for the eighth wicket and set up Glen Chapple to hit the winning runs.
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