YORKSHIRE’S hopes of qualifying for the quarter finals of the Friends Provident Trophy were dented after losing their third match in a row, this time by three wickets against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Yorkshire had their chances to win this game, especially when three wickets in seven balls from influential left-arm spinner David Wainwright reduced the hosts to 107-6 in their pursuit of 218.

But they will look back with regret on their horrendous start with the bat, when they were reduced to 49-5 in the 16th over.

Anthony McGrath and allrounder Rich Pyrah both hit 67 to get the visitors to a respectable 217-9.

Gloucestershire’s New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin, who claimed three wickets, and wicketkeeper Stephen Adshead (56) shared a seventh wicket partnership of 106 in 18 overs to secure the points.

Franklin ended unbeaten on 51 when he hit the second ball of the final over for four.

“I think we are going to have to win our last three games to qualify,” said Mc- Grath, who came off the field with a back complaint midway through Gloucester’s chase.

“It was a bit of a topsyturvy game. I think we were a little under par with the score, but the bowlers did a fantastic job.’’ Wainwright, playing his first 50-over game of the season, claimed three wickets in his first seven balls without conceding a run to reduce the hosts from 102-3 to 107-6.

The 24 year-old, claiming a career best, took two wickets in his first four balls before getting his third with the first ball of his second over.

Will Porterfield (34), Chris Taylor and Alex Gidman were his victims.

McGrath and Pyrah shared a backs to the wall sixthwicket partnership of 115 in 27 overs.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Kruis took a wicket each to reduce the hosts to 23-2, but Yorkshire’s best chance came of victory came following Wainwright’s burst.

Yorkshire face Durham at Headingley tomorrow, with McGrath and Michael Vaughan (hamstring) both doubts.

Scoreboard

Gloucestershire v Yorkshire At Bristol

Yorkshire

A W Gale c Adshead b Franklin ................12

J A Rudolph b Lewis .......................... 1

Naved ul-Hasan lbw b Lewis ...................15

A McGrath c Porterfield b Ireland ............67

J J Sayers lbw b Franklin .................... 0

A U Rashid c Adshead b Lewis ................. 4

R M Pyrah b Banerjee .........................67

G J Kruis c Porterfield b Lewis ..............11

S M Guy c Kadeer Ali b Franklin ..............22

D J Wainwright not out .......................15

S A Patterson not out ........................ 0

Extras (w3 pens 0)............................ 3

Total 9 wkts (50 overs)......................217

Fall: 1-1 2-17 3-33 4-33 5-49 6-164 7-179 8-182 9-213

Bowling: Lewis 9-2-43-4. Franklin 10-1-38-3.

Ireland 9-0-48-1. Gidman 10-0-41-0. Banerjee 10-0-40-1. Taylor 2-0-7-0.

Gloucestershire

H J Marshall b Kruis ..................16

Kadeer Ali c Rudolph b N-ul-Hasan ..... 5

W T Porterfield c Guy b Wainwright ....34

C M Spearman b Kruis ..................29

C G Taylor c & b Wainwright ...........17

A P Gidman c Guy b Wainwright ......... 0

J E Franklin not out ..................51

S J Adshead c Naved-ul-Hasan b Kruis.. 56

J Lewis not out ........................4

Extras (b1 lb3 w3 nb2 pens 0) ......... 9

Total 7 wkts (49.2 overs).............221

Fall: 1-21 2-23 3-78 4-102 5-102 6-107 7-213

Bowling: Kruis 10-0-45-3. Naved-ul-Hasan 10-1-39-1. Patterson 8.2-1-45-0. Pyrah 10-0- 47-0. McGrath 3-0-8-0. Wainwright 8-1-33-3.

Gloucestershire beat Yorkshire by 3 wkts.