Alex Lees Lets Loose

It is a pity that there was an avalanche of wickets just as Yorkshire neared the winning post, but the flurry of four quick wickets fails to detract from the fact that this was a long-overdue performance of convincing batting in a one-day match from Yorkshire's highly talented openers. Having persuaded everyone that they are the hottest opening pair in the County Championship, it was time that Lees and Lyth combined equally well in limited overs cricket. Tonight they did precisely that.

Obviously pride of place must go to Alex Lees for recording his maiden one-day century. Alex is continually winning more admirers, and it seems only a matter of time before he is joining Ballance and Root in representing England, probably in limited overs internationals in the first instance. Meanwhile Adam Lyth put behind him a disappointing run of form in one-day cricket with his own valuable contribution to their majestic, match-winning stand of 195, having set the tone by getting off to a flier. Only Andrew Gale is alone amongst the Tyke batsmen as failing yet to register a half century in the Royal London One-Day Cup. However he did start the proceedings by winning the toss and then completed the show by scoring the winning runs.

The challenge for inconsistent Yorkshire is whether or not they can build upon their emphatic win over Northamptonshire and string a few wins together. To do so, one would hope that the white rose bowlers can improve upon their own erratic efforts. While Richard Pyrah conceded a mere twenty-two runs from his ten overs against high-flying Gloucestershire, he was much more expensive on this occasion. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I cannot fathom why Twenty20 specialist Azeem Rafiq is not considered worthy of a first-team place in the fifty overs skirmishes. Most peculiar.

Anyhow, Yorkshire are handily positioned in third in their group as they turn their thoughts to fixtures on consecutive days against the midlanders of Worcestershire and Leicestershire, followed by Essex. Two wins from these next three engagements would represent a significant step forward for silverware-chasing Yorkshire.

Northamptonshire versus YORKSHIRE; at Northampton; Tuesday 5th August 2014. YORKSHIRE won the toss.

Northamptonshire: 209 for seven off 38 overs (Rossington 75; Pyrah 3-50)

YORKSHIRE: 213 for four off 34 overs (Lees 102, Lyth 84)

YORKSHIRE won by six wickets. Northamptonshire 0 points, YORKSHIRE 2 points.