Cricket latest: Bairstow blasts Yorkshire to thrilling victory

Chasing a target of 200 from 37 overs, they got there with 14 balls to spare thanks to 80 from acting captain Jacques Rudolph and a dashing unbeaten 64 from Jonny Bairstow.

Yorkshire's success came despite a magnificent unbeaten knock of 127 by Warwickshire's Rikki Clarke, who battled away for over six hours without ever looking in the slightest trouble.

Clarke's marathon innings was chiefly responsible for Warwickshire being able to recover to a final total of 371 after being forced to follow on 172 runs in arrears.

In the end, however, Yorkshire paced their innings to perfection and Bairstow and Adil Rashid received a standing ovation from the fans when they returned to the new pavilion after their match-winning unbeaten partnership of 39 in just under four overs.

Yorkshire got off to a shaky start as Adam Lyth was caught in the slips off Boyd Rankin in the second over and the pace bowler also dismissed Anthony McGrath lbw to make it 47-2.

But Rudolph and Bairstow adopted aggressive tactics which left Warwickshire in no doubt of their intentions and, after Bairstow had smacked consecutive fours off Imran Tahir, Rudolph reached his 50 off 64 balls with seven fours.

A further 111 were required off 16 overs when the last hour arrived and this had been whittled down to 74 off 11 when Rudolph was run out off Steffan Piolet's first ball. He and Bairstow went for a second but Rudolph could not beat Rankin's throw to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

Bairstow drove Darren Maddy for a straight six in an over which cost 13 but the dismissal of Gerard Brophy, bowled sweeping at Tahir, meant 39 were wanted off seven overs.

Running brilliantly between the wickets, Bairstow and Rashid soon made Warwickshire realise the game was up and Bairstow's 64 came off 61 balls with seven fours and a six.

Clarke was on 51 and Ateeq Javid 37 when Warwickshire set out on the final morning only 21 ahead at 193-3, and Rashid soon struck by having Javid caught behind for 48.

Surprisingly, Richard Pyrah shared the new ball with Steven Patterson and he responded by ripping out Ambrose's off stump in spectacular fashion before his partner trapped Piolet lbw.

Warwickshire were 244 for six but they were far from finished because Clarke never looked like surrendering his wicket and Neil Carter soon helped him to push the score on.

Early in the afternoon, Rashid collected his fifth wicket of the innings when Carter was lbw but Clarke completed a century of the highest quality off 235 balls, with six fours and two sixes. Tahir gave him splendid support in a partnership of 75 in 13 overs before lofting Patterson to McGrath at mid-off.

Rankin was run out and Jim Troughton came in as last man to resume his innings after being forced to retire hurt the previous evening when struck on the forehead by a bouncer from Tino Best. He could not add to his 17, however, because he edged a drive at Patterson to Rudolph at second slip, leaving Clarke without any further partners after battling away for over six hours and facing 256 deliveries.

Clarke was unbeaten in the match, having scored 46 off 122 balls in the first innings.

Click here to read Chris Waters's report of day three from Headingley >>