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Top Stories Yorkshire aim for roses victory  Yorkshire will bid to defy the weather and the old enemy tonight to put their first points on the board in the Northern Section of the Twenty20 Cup. The Tykes take on Lancashire in front of a sell-out crowd at Headingley Carnegie eager to get off the mark after their opening-day defeat at Leicestershire on Friday night. The hosts posted 154-5, but the White Rose side gave it a good go with opening pair Gerard Brophy (44) and Craig White (31) putting on 57 for the first wicket before wickets started to tumble. Yorkshire finished the weather-hit 16-overs-a-side clash 13 runs in arrears. It was a disappointing start with Leicestershire skipper Jeremy Snape's 3-6 effectively turning the game. However, one of his victims, Jacques Rudolph, who went for only three, believes the Tykes can prosper in this season's competition. Friday's encounter was Rudolph's first Twenty20 match in this country and he said: "It's a good challenge and a new one for me. "It's something I'm really looking forward to and I think the crowds want to come expecting some big shots, some big boundaries. "It gives batters and bowlers the opportunity to really work on their skills and it should be a good challenge." Yorkshire are bidding to improve on a record which has seen them advance to the last eight only once since the cup's introduction into the cricketing calendar in 2003. Rudolph added: "I've played eight or nine games back home in South Africa so I don't really count myself experienced in this format of the game. "But I think if you can stick to playing your normal game, with good cricket shots instead of just slogging it, you should be fine. "However, it's a very fine line between success and failure because the fans want to see boundaries and sixes. "There is a little more risk involved in this competition as a batter." Tonight's match is the start of an intense spell for Yorkshire who face the return against Lancashire at Old Trafford on Wednesday, Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Friday and Durham at Headingley Carnegie the following day before taking in three more group games the following week. The Tykes finally return to County Championship duty against Lancashire at Old Trafford on July 8 and skipper Darren Gough believes it is a tough ask for his side to make the last eight of the Twenty20 competition. He said: "The northern section is probably the strongest of all with Leicestershire, Lancashire, Durham and Nottinghamshire in there. "We want to do well but it will be very difficult to qualify from our group. "Nevertheless, I'm working on a few things I've picked up from Essex and Martyn (Moxon) has brought a few ideas from Durham so hopefully we'll be okay." source - mysporttoday.co.uk |
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