Fourth defeat brings end to any hopes of progress for Yorkshire

The Yorkshire first team coach felt there was no margin for error after his side lost three of their opening four fixtures.

On that basis, Yorkshire’s interest in the competition ended yesterday when they lost by five wickets to Group C leaders Gloucestershire.

After the home side scored 
240-6 after winning the toss, Gloucestershire replied with 
243-5 before a surprisingly large turnout of around 4,000.

Yorkshire, who handed a List A debut to 19-year-old pace bowler Ben Coad, began shakily in bright sunshine.

Rich Pyrah chipped the seventh ball of the match from Graeme McCarter to cover, where Benny Howell accepted a simple catch.

The decision to promote Pyrah to open the batting has yet to pay off.

In four innings as Andrew Gale’s partner, Pyrah has scored 6, 6, 6 and 2 after starting the YB40 campaign at No 6.

It almost got worse for Yorkshire before it got better when Phil Jaques, the No 3, was dropped at slip by Alex Gidman off McCarter before he had scored.

The Australian was soon into his stride, however, pulling McCarter’s new ball partner James Fuller for successive boundaries through the square-leg region to the foot of the East Stand.

Gale got in on the act when he adroitly tickled McCarter through fine leg for four as Yorkshire reached 43-1 off the opening eight overs of powerplay.

It has been a frustrating summer so far for Gale, a fact highlighted when he unaccountably lofted David Payne to mid-wicket to leave Yorkshire 56-2 in the 11th over.

It might have been 85-3 in the 18th but Gary Ballance was dropped on 11 by Hamish Marshall at slip off Miles Hammond, a 17-year-old off-spinner making his one-day debut.

Hammond, a blond and baby-faced bundle of energy, did not have to wait too long to get his man.

With the score on 119 in the 23rd over, Ballance rather gave it away when he swept the teenager to Chris Dent at deep-backward square-leg.

Ballance has got a start in every YB40 match this season but has yet to produce a really telling contribution, his innings of 37 following scores of 50, 66, 44 and 40.

On a pitch on which 260-270 seemed about par, Gloucestershire did well to contain Yorkshire to 101-2 at the halfway stage, and the visitors set about turning the screw when the home side took the four-over batting powerplay with the total standing at 158-3 after 29 overs.

Adam Lyth was bowled by Gidman to end a run-a-ball stand of 45 with Jaques, who then undid much of his good work in reaching 70 when he played a horrible shot at Gidman and was bowled.

Jaques stepped well outside his off-stump in an attempt to paddle the medium pacer through the fine-leg area only to be left with egg on his face when the plan backfired.

Yorkshire lost a third wicket in the final powerplay over when Andrew Hodd was caught at slip off Payne, which left the hosts in danger of failing to post even a competitive total.

But Adil Rashid continued his remarkable form with an unbeaten 43 from 30 balls with four fours, receiving staunch support from young Will Rhodes, who finished undefeated on 19 from 24 deliveries.

The pair added 52 from 46 balls as Rashid raised his YB40 average to 81.50 to go with an extraordinary first-class average of 254.50.

Gloucestershire made a confident start to their chase as the opening pair of Marshall and captain Michael Klinger hoisted 55 off the initial powerplay.

Marshall, the New Zealander, evidenced his class by effortlessly lofting Moin Ashraf for six over mid-off towards the Rugby Stand, while Klinger, the Australian, also found his range with two straight sixes off Pyrah.

Coad finally broke the stand when he had Marshall athletically caught at short fine-leg by Iain Wardlaw, diving to his right, which left the visitors 74-1 in the 12th over.

Coad, whose fluid approach to the crease and wicket-to-wicket style rather puts one in mind of Steve Patterson, betrayed no sign of nerves in an impressive display which suggested Yorkshire have unearthed another good ’un.

With Chris Dent unable to bat at No 3 after injuring himself while fielding, Gloucestershire promoted Gareth Roderick, their 21-year-old wicketkeeper.

The South African responded with a one-day career-best 63 from 66 balls with four fours before being caught behind off Wardlaw, ending a stand of 119 in 20 overs with his captain.

After Coad finished with a respectable 1-42 from eight overs, Gloucestershire lost their third wicket on 206 when Pyrah bowled Gidman.

Coad then showed his prowess in the field by catching Howell at mid-on off Pyrah, the ball travelling quickly to him at around head height.

Gloucestershire lost their fifth wicket with the score on 226 in the 37th over when Klinger threw away the chance of a century, driving Ashraf to Ballance at mid-off.

The visitors made it unnecessarily hard for themselves in the closing stages, but Ian Cockbain and Fuller completed the formalities with 11 balls to spare.

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