Flying start by Gale lifts Yorkshire on sombre evening

Although there was no suggestion that this match should have been called off, or the other one staged yesterday involving Hampshire and Middlesex at Southampton, there was an understandably sombre air at the County Ground last night, where Yorkshire beat Derbyshire by 41 runs.

Jason Gillespie, the Yorkshire first team coach, played with Maynard at Glamorgan, while Joe Root and Moin Ashraf were involved with him in various England Lions’ and development squads.

Certainly none would have felt more keenly the minute’s silence before start of play, which was impeccably observed by a crowd of around 1,500.

In the context of Maynard’s passing, the cricket felt somewhat inconsequential, but the teams did their best to put on a show on a pleasantly warm evening.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Yorkshire made 150-5 from their 20 overs, former Derbyshire batsman Gary Ballance top-scoring with an unbeaten 47 and Andrew Gale chipping in with 39 and Root 36. Former Yorkshire left-arm spinner David Wainwright took 2-14 from four overs – figures that did not deserve to be in a losing cause.

After reaching 43-0 in reply, Derbyshire lost wickets at regular intervals, Ashraf starring with 4-18 and Pyrah returning 3-21.

As is his wont, Gale gave Yorkshire a flying start.

The captain was quick to knock the bowlers off their stride, moving quickly to the pitch of the ball to drive with trademark power and placement.

So freely did runs arrive from Gale’s flashing blade that Phil Jaques perhaps tried too hard to force the issue at the other end, the Australian caught at deep mid-wicket off Wes Durston to leave Yorkshire 36-1 in the fifth over.

But having reached 64-1 off eight overs, Yorkshire were stymied by the introduction of Wainwright, who captured two wickets in his opening over.

Wainwright struck with his second ball when Gale skied to Durston at deep mid-off and then with his fourth delivery when David Miller was out for a golden duck, superbly caught by Tim Groenewald at slip.

After Wainwright came on, Yorkshire scored just 39 runs in the next eight overs.

Root made most of them before he was fourth out with the total on 102, caught behind off former Yorkshire pace bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, having faced 39 balls and struck four fours.

Rich Pyrah was bowled off his pads by Mark Turner to leave Yorkshire 107-5 in the 17th over before some much-needed late biffing from Ballance hoisted Yorkshire to a competitive total.

Forty-seven runs arrived from the last four overs, including 32 off the final two as Ballance injected vital impetus.

After Durston and Usman Khawaja’s opening stand, ended when Khawaja top-edged Mitchell Starc to Gerard Brophy, Derbyshire folded.

Ashraf captured two wickets in his first two overs, having Durston lbw and bowling Wayne Madsen as he tried to hit across the line.

Dan Redfern was run-out at the non-striker’s end when Rafiq deflected a drive from Ross Whiteley on to the stumps, Whiteley slogged across the line and was bowled by Pyrah, who then disturbed the stumps of Chesney Hughes and had Tom Poynton caught.

Ashraf returned to have Rana caught behind and then bowled Groenewald before Starc bowled Turner off the final ball.