Rudolph's century not enough to save Yorkshire

By Richard Watts
May 7 2007

Jacques Rudolph hit his second Yorkshire century but it wasn't enough to save them from defeat against Leicestershire. Rudolph opened the innings and made an even 100 but his innings was overshadowed by a fine all round performance by Leicestershire's Australian Allenby.

Yorkshire won the toss and batted but despite the South African's fine innings, it was only when Gerald Brophy hit a swashbuckling 36 in a 22 ball stay; in a partnership of 42 with Rudolph that Yorkshire got on top. As Rudolph accumulated in good style there was little substance to Yorkshire's middle order, Younus Khan went early while McGrath 20 and Gale 17 got starts but failed to take advantage against some good bowling by the Western Australian medium pacer Allenby who took 3 for 44. Rudolph went through to his second Yorkshire ton from 166 balls with 10 fours but then immediately went to Cummins leaving Yorkshire 229 for 7. Some good late hitting by Bresnan 32 not out (21 balls, 3 fours and a six) and Gillespie 15 not out (8 balls, 1 six) got Yorkshire up to a slightly disappointing 282 for 8.

Gough and Gillespie struck early to reduce the Foxes to 34 for 2 but then the game was taken away from them by Man of the Match Allenby and the South African Ackerman. They put on 131 before Ackerman went to Pyrah for 66 (80 balls) but that was snails pace compared to Allenby whose 84 came off 66 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes. He was also removed by Pyrah. Harsh treatment was dished out to Patterson (40 runs in 4 overs), Bresnan (69 runs in 9) and Younus Khan (32 runs in 4). An unbroken partnership of 94 between Nixon (42 not out) and Sadler (59 not out) took Leicestershire to a six wicket victory with 16 balls to spare. Pyrah's 2 for 15 was the highlight of Yorkshire's bowling attack.