Batsmen sparkle to make sure one-day form remains on song

The South African had to be content with 83, the highest score of a rain-affected game.

Rudolph's innings – which anchored a Yorkshire total of 240-3 in a contest reduced to 30 overs-a-side – lifted his tally to 412 runs in the space of just eight days.

It followed knocks of 101 not out against Essex at Chelmsford and a career-best 228 not out against Durham at Headingley Carnegie, helping Yorkshire to a 35-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

If Rudolph is not in the form of his life, he could have fooled the crowd as he again produced a masterly performance.

The effortless nature of his shots was a delight to behold on an inclement day on the windswept east coast.

Rudolph's offside play – both in front of and behind the wicket – led the Northamptonshire team on a merry dance.

He deserved another three-figure score but fell two overs from the end when he was caught by David Willie at deep mid-on off Andrew Hall.

Another man in prime form at present is Anthony McGrath, who thumped an unbeaten 77 from 50 deliveries.

Fresh from his first County Championship hundred for 11 months, against Durham, McGrath started sedately before finding his touch beneath overcast skies.

Had it not been for the miserable weather, McGrath would probably have scored another century against a side who did not help their cause with some wayward bowling.

The former England all-rounder dined on a number of full tosses and short balls to help Yorkshire plunder 71 runs from the last five overs, but he also improvised splendidly to turn decent deliveries into run-scoring opportunities.

Northamptonshire – left to chase an adjusted target of 245 from 30 overs, which later became 154 from 16 overs following further rain – were never in the hunt in the evening gloom.

Although Rob White smashed 69 from 47 balls with nine fours and a six, he was stymied by a lack of support and a required run-rate that started at more than eight an over.

Richard Pyrah took three wickets in five balls as batsmen fell in pursuit of quick runs, while West Indian fast bowler Tino Best and Ben Sanderson each claimed two wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 118 in 15.2 overs.

Best rounded off the win by bowling Jack Brooks as Yorkshire maintained their unbeaten run to the competition.

Unchanged from last week's victory against Essex, Yorkshire made a sizzling start after being sent into bat.

Openers Andrew Gale and Rudolph plundered 39 off the first five overs before the first of two rain delays, although Gale was fortunate to survive when he was dropped on four by wicketkeeper Paul Harrison, diving to his left off David Lucas.

Having shared a Yorkshire one-day league record partnership of 233 at Chelmsford, Gale and Rudolph were full of confidence as they gave their team a splendid platform.

They had hoisted the total to 61 in the eighth over when Gale fell for 35, skying a ball from Lucas to Hall at cover.

Rudolph and Adam Lyth added 54 in eight overs before the latter was run out following an unfortunate mix-up, Lyth not responding to his partner's call for a second run.

But McGrath ensured the good beginning was not wasted during a partnership of 95 with Rudolph in 12.3 overs. McGrath, too, had slices of fortune – he was dropped on 13 by White at deep cover off Willie and then by Willie at long-off, off Lucas.

But he capitalised on his luck in clinical style.

In addition to seven sweetly-struck fours, McGrath hammered Willie for six over cover and later Brooks clean out of the ground as the ball soared over the black sight screen at the Trafalgar Square end.

Brooks had a day to forget, conceding 25 runs, off one disastrous over in which McGrath ran riot.

Only captain Nicky Boje conceded less than six runs per over as Yorkshire peppered all corners of North Marine Road.

Northamptonshire's reply began terribly as they plunged to 4-3 inside three overs, dangerman Mal Loye comprehensively bowled by Best.

White was the only batsman who looked capable of masterminding an improbable win, but he fell to a weel-judged catch at long-on by Lyth off Pyrah.

Boje and Harrison were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as Yorkshire turned the screw in expert style.

n Yorkshire's County Championship match against Essex at Scarborough tomorrow will start at 11.30am, instead of 11am.

The visitors have requested the time change as they are playing against Derbyshire at Leek today.

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