Steve Patterson and Yorkshire are left frustrated in Trophy stalemate

As it was, and but for the loss of 138 overs across the four days, Yorkshire were actually the likeliest winners, the hosts having the better of the match at Emerald Headingley.

The only winner, alas, was the great British weather, which scuppered Yorkshire’s attempt to make it three wins out of three in the Bob Willis Trophy against the only other side who had a 100 per cent record in the north group.

But Yorkshire’s haul of 15 points from the fixture saw them close the gap on their first-placed opponents to two points with two fixtures left, with the two group winners with the most points from the north, central and south groups advancing to a five-day final at Lord’s on September 23.

Yorkshire host Lancashire in their next game, starting on Saturday, and then Leicestershire in their last match beginning on September 6.

Derbyshire visit Durham next week and then travel to Lancashire.

A short and sweet group stage is going to the wire.

Steve Patterson, the Yorkshire captain who returned his team’s best figures of 3-27 from 22 overs as Derbyshire ended on 300-7 in reply to the hosts’ first innings total of 400-6 declared, said: “We’re in a strong position in terms of the group, but a lot can happen yet.

“We won our first two games without playing our best cricket, and we’ve effectively now lost a game to the weather.

“You can potentially win the group and not go (to the final) anyway, and from my perspective it’s all about the level we play.

“I was pleased with the way the lads went about it in this match after we lost the toss and were put into bat in difficult conditions.

“To go on and get 400 and maximum batting points was a wonderful achievement, and then I thought with the ball we worked really hard and stuck to our task with a young attack.”

There was no doubting Yorkshire’s man-of-the-match, Dawid Malan celebrating his home debut for the club with a double hundred.

Malan’s 219 was a masterful performance and career-best innings.

“It was very pleasing to see Dawid go on and get a double,” added Patterson.

“We signed him because we knew he was a high-quality player, and he proved that this week. We knew we were probably short of one senior batter, and he’s settled in quickly and done really well.

“We’ve got a number of young lads who’ve got a lot of ability and potential, but Dawid brings much-needed experience as well.”

After rain prevented play on the final day until 2.30pm, Derbyshire soon knocked off the three runs they needed to avoid the follow-on.

It was never a realistic prospect in any case as Yorkshire still had four wickets to take when the action resumed in muggy conditions, with a brisk wind blowing clouds across a sky of grey and blue lit by watery sunshine.

Derbyshire, 198-6 overnight, continued impressively with their seventh-wicket pair of Matt Critchley and Anuj Dal, who were not separated until two hours’ cricket had elapsed.

Dominic Leech, the 19-year-old pace bowler, arrowed one through the defences of a driving Critchley, whom he bowled for 63 to end the stand at 104 and leave the visitors 278-7.

Derbyshire claimed a third batting point on reaching 300 and declared immediately to end the match, Dal finishing with the top score of 78 not out. Leech continued a promising start to his career with a couple of wickets, while 19-year-old George Hill let no one down on his maiden appearance.

Derbyshire, for their part, will be pleased to get out of the match with a draw after Yorkshire dominated the early exchanges.

The main imperative for the visitors was to avoid the follow-on, top-scorer Dal seeing them to the all-important mark of 201 after Derbyshire had slipped to 174-6 on day three.

“Just before I went in Dave Houghton (head of cricket) came to me and said, ‘Make sure we’re not following-on’. It was an important point in the game, and sometimes batting at No 8 you get into those tricky positions.

“I’m pleased personally, but glad I could get the team into a position where we are still top of the league.

“Yorkshire bowled quite well with the older ball and made it difficult to score.”

Attention now turns to the Roses game, where a Yorkshire victory would definitely end third-placed Lancashire’s challenge.

It will be an added motivation for Patterson and his White Rose players.