In weather more suited to Sheffield than Sharjah the most surrealRoses match in recent memory was decided by the Duckworth/Lewis method aftertorrential rain forced the players from the field for Yorkshire to bepronounced comfortable 156-run winners

Mark Pennell25-Mar-2009
ScorecardIn weather more suited to Sheffield than Sharjah the most surrealRoses match in recent memory was decided by the Duckworth/Lewis method aftertorrential rain forced the players from the field for Yorkshire to bepronounced comfortable 156-run winners.The victory ensured Yorkshire finished third in the pre-season Pro Arch Trophy event and, as if to rub salt in their rival’s wounds, it emerged later that Lancashire’s new skipper, 34-year-old Glen Chapple, may be sidelined for a fortnight after collecting a hamstringinjury.Lancashire’s pursuit of Yorkshire’s mammoth total of 310 for 5, builtaround hundreds from Anthony McGrath and Joe Sayers, was already on theropes when torrential a storm with lightning called a halt to the contest.Sayers and McGrath shared a second-wicket stand of 237 – a tournamentrecord – to heap pressure on Lancashire whose best riposte came fromStephen Parry with 3 for 44 from eight overs. Lancashire coach Peter Moores remained phlegmatic afterwards saying:”We can have no complaints, they were just better than us on the day.”Having been forced to field first after losing the toss, Lancashiremade the best of starts when Steven Cheetham had Andrew Gale caught atmid-on by Chapple in the first over.But Sayers and his skipper McGrath then rode their luck, both enjoyinga life, to go on and bat Lancashire out of the game. McGrath, droppedon 84, raced to three figures off 97 balls with 10 fours and threesixes then immediately afterwards Sayers, who was reprieved on 78, postedhis maiden limited-overs century from 123 balls with seven fours andtwo sixes.Steven Mullaney eventually sent McGrath packing before Parry dismissedSayers, yet Yorkshire still had power to add through Tim Bresnan’squick-fire 40.Within six overs of their reply Lancashire were deep in trouble on 18 for 2 after losing Kyle Hogg and a fit-again Mal Loye. Adrian Shankar followed them back to the pavilion soon after, and when Tom Smith came to the crease in place of Chapple, Lancashire were 69 for 5 and already down and virtually out.Steve Patterson and David Wainwright picked up two wickets apiece andwere gunning for more when the game was abandoned after 37 overs.Commenting on Chapple’s injury, Moores added: “He has got a tear inhis hamstring we think, but we don’t know how bad it is. It could be aniggle or it could be something slightly more serious.”He will have a scan when we get back to England. He will face sometime out, but how long that is going to be remains to be seen.”