Yorkshire CCC hope to ride out storm and seal victory over Derbyshire

The Yorkshire first team coach was left frustrated after just one over was possible on day two of the match against Derbyshire at Headingley due to rain and bad light.

Play was called off at 4.50pm on Sunday – almost two hours after the teams took briefly to the field following an initial four-hour delay.

Yorkshire added eight runs in the six balls possible, increasing their first innings score to 288-4 as Dawid Malan struck two fours off Michael Cohen, the South African left-arm pace bowler, to advance from 145 to 153.

Jonny Tattersall did not face a delivery so remained unbeaten on 64, the fifth-wicket stand now worth 182 – 13 short of Yorkshire’s record for that wicket against Derbyshire of 195 between Michael Lumb and Craig White at Derby in 2003.

For the record, Malan’s boundaries yesterday were a thumping pull shot past mid-on towards the North-East Stand and an imperious cut towards the West Stand, the England man reaching his third half-century from 185 balls.

“That’s the reason why we signed him,” commented Gale.

“He’s played really well and he looked good in the two days’ preparation leading up to the game.

“Dawid is very much a feel sort of player and he felt good going into the game. He’s looked really fluent and latched on to everything.”

Gale, whose side won their first two games at Durham and Nottinghamshire, is crossing his fingers that a showery forecast for the last two days enables sufficient play for Yorkshire to beat opponents who possess the only other 100 per cent record in the north group.

The two group winners with the most points from the north, central and south groups progress to a five-day final at Lord’s on September 23.

“The forecast looks a bit mixed,” added Gale, whose team complete their group campaign with fixtures at Headingley against Lancashire (August 22-25) and Leicestershire (September 6-9).

“But there’s still enough time left to get a positive result.

“You can’t second-guess the weather; over the last week or so it kept saying thunderstorms, and we’ve hardly seen a thunderstorm, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.

“But there’s a good feeling amongst all the lads at the minute – it’s a really good dressing room.”

When the action resumes, Yorkshire would need 112 runs inside 31 overs to reach 400 and the maximum five batting bonus points before the 110-over cut-off mark.

They have negotiated 79 overs so far, with sides allowed to bat for a maximum of 120 overs in their first innings under tournament rules.

Play is scheduled to resume at 11am.

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