Steelbacks Stunned

In spite of some terrific batting from the dastardly Duckett and then Crook, the Steelbacks' determined response eventually evaporated. The damage had long since been inflicted by yet another cosmic batting performance from a Yorkshire team that suddenly has found its Twenty20 feet. As a consequence of the heroics from David Willey and supporting actors, the Vikings remarkably have one foot in the quarter finals. Such has been their prowess in recent weeks that nobody will relish playing against them in the knockout stages. Even the high-flying Steelbacks found their hosts too hot to handle.

Who would have thought it possible a couple of weeks ago? Anyhow, although even captain Lees batted better than usual, I think that the talented Head and Leaning are wasted batting below Alex in the batting order. A similar observation can be applied to Tim Bresnan who has a knack of weighing in with a few sixes in the latter stages. Perhaps he too merits an upgrade in the batting order. Mind you, Brezza's bowling is now as bad as his batting is good. Fortunately the spin twins of Rafiq and Rashid shared four wickets, and big Liam earned his wages with another improved showing with ball in hand. Meanwhile young Rhodes finished his batting unbeaten again and took one wicket from an over that cost a mere three runs. Why even Hoddy added to his growing list of stumping victims.

Can the home team carry this exciting form into the fifty overs contests that loom on the horizon? Don't bet against it.

Twenty20 Blast: YORKSHIRE VIKINGS versus Northamptonshire Steelbacks; in Leeds; Friday the 22nd of July 2016. YORKSHIRE VIKINGS won the toss.

YORKSHIRE VIKINGS: 215 for six (off twenty overs)

Lyth c Prasanna b Gleeson 10 (11-1)

Willey c Prasanna b Ashraf 74 (137-3)

Lees c Levi b Crook 35 (117-2)

Head b Ashraf 22 (207-5)

Leaning c Wakely b Crook 30 (184-4)

Bresnan not out 26

Plunkett run out (Wakely) 1 (209-6)

Rhodes not out 0

Extras: seventeen

Northamptonshire Steelbacks: 140 for nine (off 15.2 overs)

Cobb c and b Bresnan 7 (10-1)

Rossington c Willey b Plunkett 12 (47-2)

Duckett st Hodd b Rashid 51 (89-4)

Wakely c Lyth b Plunkett 0 (47-3)

Crook lbw b Rafiq 43 (133-7)

Prasanna run out (Rashid) 1 (103-5)

Kleinveldt c Willey b Rashid 1 (105-6)

White b Rafiq 17 (140-9)

Gleeson c Hodd b Rhodes 3 (140-8)

Ashraf not out 0

Levi absent hurt 0

Extras: five

YORKSHIRE VIKINGS win by 75 runs. YORKSHIRE VIKINGS two points, Northamptonshire Steelbacks nul points.

BATTING CHARTS (minimum of one hundred runs):

Kane Williamson: 209 runs; average - 34.83

Adam Lyth: 235 runs; average - 26.11

Jack Leaning: 179 runs; average - 25.57

David Willey: 173 runs; average - 24.71

Tim Bresnan: 155 runs; average - 22.14

Alex Lees: 176 runs; average - 17.7

BEST BOWLERS (minimum of ten wickets):

Azeem Rafiq: eleven wickets; average - 17.55

Tim Bresnan: fifteen wickets; average - 19.73

Liam Plunkett: ten wickets; average - 25.2