Shahzad rescues Tykes with late flurry

Yorkshire looked nailed on for an opening day North Division win after they had advanced to 110-2 in the 15th over of their pursuit of 149, but they lost five wickets for 15 runs in 16 balls.

It was definitely a case of same story, different format for the Tykes, who have been blighted by batting collapses this season.

The equation came down to 22 runs needed off the last two overs with three wickets in hand. Shahzad hit James Allenby for a straight six through the hands of James Taylor at long-on, and then four in consecutive balls to ease the pressure.

The pair took 16 off the penultimate over, leaving six needed off the last. The win was completed with one ball to spare.

“I was a bit nervy when I went in because the run-rate was at eights and nearly nines,” said 23-year-old Shahzad, who scooped the man of the match award for 17 not out off eight balls.

“We knew that a couple of big hits would do it. We were strolling along at one point, but lost a few wickets. It shows the depth that we have got in our batting.”

Shahzad and Guy (seven not out off eight balls) shared an unbroken stand of 24 for the eighth wicket, rescuing a chase that had looked comfortable for most parts thanks, in the main, to 35 off 30 balls from Michael Vaughan and 30 off 21 from opener Anthony McGrath.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan had earlier celebrated his release from the rebel Indian Cricket League with impressive bowling figures of 2-22 from four overs.

HD Ackerman enhanced his status as one of the world’s best 20-over batsmen with his 17th half-century in this format. He carried his bat for 66 not out off 56 balls.

He was helped along by 31 apiece from Paul Nixon and Taylor.

Leicester did well to post 148-3 after the White Rose had restricted them to just 25-1 after the first six overs of powerplay, but they would also have been disappointed not to score more because they only managed to take 23 off the last three overs.

Deon Kruis finished with 0-21 from his four overs, while captain McGrath finished with 1-20 from three.

Leicester’s Taylor and Yorkshire’s Kruis both claimed stunning catches.

Kruis pouched Taylor onehanded above his head at square-leg, while Taylor later removed Jacques Rudolph with a magnificent diving effort at long-on.

“It’s a great start to the competition for us,” said Shahzad. “We have got Lancashire now, and hopefully we can take the momentum into that.”

Yorkshire travel to Old Trafford for a North Division Roses clash with Lancashire tonight (5.30pm).

Scoreboard

Yorkshire v Leicestershire At Headingley Carnegie

Leicestershire Innings

J Allenby c Wainwright b Naved-ul-Hasan.. 10 H D Ackerman not out ........................66

J W Taylor c Kruis b McGrath ................31

P A Nixon b Naved-ul-Hasan ...............31

H H Dippenaar not out ........................ 3

Extras (lb3 w4 pens 0)................. 7

Total 3 wkts Innings Complete (20 overs)... 148

Fall: 1-17 2-82 3-135

Did Not Bat: M A G Boyce, W A White, C W Henderson, J K H Naik

Bowling: Roberts, S J Cliff.Kruis 4-0-21-0.

Naved-ul-Hasan 4-0-22-2. Shahzad 4-0-27- 0. Pyrah 3-0-36-0. Wainwright 2-0-19-0. Mc- Grath 3-0-20-1.

Yorkshire Innings

A W Gale c Allenby b Henderson ..........27

A McGrath c White b Allenby ................30v M P Vaughan lbw b Naik ......................35

J A Rudolph c Taylor b Henderson .......15

A Lyth lbw b Taylor ................ 3

R M Pyrah c White b Naik ...................... 0

Naved ul-Hasan c Nixon b White ......... 9

A Shahzad not out .............................17

S M Guy not out ........................... 7

Extras (lb4 w2 pens 0)................. 6

Total 7 wkts (19.5 overs).....149

Fall: 1-58 2-64 3-110 4-116 5-116 6-125 7-125

Did Not Bat: D J Wainwright, G J Kruis.

Bowling: White 3.5-0-24-1. Cliff 2-0-16-0. Allenby 4-0-29-1. Henderson 4-0-32-2. Naik 3- 0-22-2. Taylor 2-0-10-1. Roberts 1-0-12-0.

Yorkshire beat Leicestershire by 3 wkts.