Patterson issues a timely reminder to the frontline attack

The club’s ‘Mr Consistent’ has found himself surplus to requirements in recent times, with Ben Coad having broken into the County Championship side and with others preferred in one-day cricket.

No-one with Patterson’s pride and professionalism is likely to be happy about being left out, with the pace bowler having missed six of the eight group games in the Royal London Cup and the last Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

But although the 33-year-old has nothing to prove, having played a key role in Yorkshire’s recent success, he proved himself anyway for good measure on Saturday with a performance that highlighted his enduring skill.

As South Africa A totalled 129-4 before play was abandoned in mid-afternoon following a storm, Patterson led the way with 2-16 from 7.3 overs with two maidens.

He had JJ Smuts caught behind by 19-year-old Jonathan Read, who was making his List A debut, and then had Theunis de Bruyn caught in the covers by Jonathan Tattersall, who fielded splendidly during the 35.3 overs possible before torrential rain made parts of the ground unplayable.

In a match that had already been reduced to 49 overs per side after the start was delayed by morning rain, Patterson prospered through the time-honoured virtues of line and length.

He worried a strong South Africa A batting order with an arrow-straight method of attack.

“I’ve played a lot of cricket now, whether it’s South Africa A or anybody else, so I know what I’m capable of and what I need to do, so I just try to go about doing it,” said Patterson.

“I think the pleasing thing was that, if you take me out of it, we had an average age of about 20/21 and a very young side out on the field.

“To have a team of South Africa A’s ability and experience in the position that we did, probably struggling to get 200, was a great effort from the boys.

“It was a real achievement for a team full of lads who haven’t played that much first-team cricket.”

Patterson, who said that all he can do is go about his business as he strives to regain a regular place, was supported in the wicket-taking stakes by Matthew Fisher, who trapped Reeza Hendricks lbw, and by Will Rhodes, who bowled Temba Bavuma.

It was only in January last year that Bavuma became the first black South African to score a Test hundred, striking 102 not out against England in the Cape Town game in which Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow made his maiden Test century.

On a worn pitch and in sultry weather, South Africa A’s innings was held together by captain Khaya Zondo, who top-scored with an unbeaten 56 after he won the toss.

Zondo and Jason Smith (33) added an unbroken 87 inside 22 overs before the rains came, the match ending in frustrating fashion as hot sunshine afterwards returned to the area.

Yorkshire, who fielded another List A debutant in 18-year-old batsman Harry Brook, return to action on Friday when they play Lancashire in the Championship at Headingley.

The club hope to announce a T20 replacement for Travis Head in the coming days, with another Australian batsman set to join.