Gale's men struggling on tour

The White Rose county have endured a disappointing time as they gear up for the 2010 domestic campaign.

After performing creditably during their opening match against Derbyshire, when they drew a two-day friendly at the Three Ws Oval, Yorkshire finished last in the Barbados Twenty20 tournament also involving Lancashire, Derbyshire, Essex, the University of West Indies and a Barbados Select XI.

Andrew Gale's men returned to action last night against Essex in a 40 overs contest and are scheduled to round off their tour with a two-day friendly against Lancashire on Friday and Saturday.

Yorkshire's performance in the showpiece Twenty20 event was disheartening to say the least.

Their hopes were effectively ended by a calamitous opening match in which they lost by 58 runs to the University of the West Indies.

The university batted first and scored 121-5 from their 20 overs, Oliver Hannon-Dalby opening the game with four wides in the first five balls. Steve Patterson and Ben Sanderson restored a semblance of control before Roland Reifer clubbed an unbeaten 58 from 46 balls.

In reply, Yorkshire got off to the worst possible start when Gale was caught behind from the first ball of the innings.

Khrismar Catlin extracted plenty of pace and bounce to take 4-11 from his four overs as Yorkshire fell for 63.

Yorkshire produced a better showing in their final Twenty20 game against Derbyshire but still lost by seven wickets with just under three overs to spare.

Yorkshire made 154 after winning the toss, Gale making 88 from 61 balls, and he was well supported by Jonathan Bairstow, who scored 30 off 26 deliveries.

But Derbyshire powered home as Graham Wagg (40 from 17 balls) and Jon Sadler (36 from 31) took full advantage of the Yorkshire bowling.

Yorkshire's three-day game against India A, scheduled to take place at Headingley Carnegie in July, will now be played from June 5-7.