Promotion joy for Yorkshire

Gerard Brophy's 59 set up a total that Yorkshire defended in dramatic circumstances

Yorkshire gained promotion to NatWest Pro40 Division One after a nail-biting four-run win against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Home captain David Sales looked to have steered the winless hosts towards victory with a gutsy 88 but a late collapse initiated by fast bowler Deon Kruis’ four wickets in 15 balls saw the hosts fail to reach their target of 183.

Opener Sales was the last man out, bowled by Kruis.

Gerard Brophy had top-scored with 59 for the visitors as Northamptonshire captain Nicky Boje took figures of 3-34, but a total of 182 proved to be sufficient for Yorkshire.

Brophy’s half-century was a rare highlight in the Yorkshire innings as they struggled to dominate the Northamptonshire bowling.

Opener Andrew Gale could only make nine while former South Africa batsman Jacques Rudolph was trapped lbw by David Lucas for 22 in the 10th over.

Lucas was on hand to help remove Rana Naved-ul-Hasan soon after when he clung onto a miscued shot down the ground to give Boje his first wicket.

Jason Brown and England spinner Monty Panesar slowed the run-rate to put pressure on Yorkshire batsmen Anthony McGrath and Brophy.

McGrath was the first to crack as he was bowled around his legs by Brown.

Brophy stood strong though and built a 33-run partnership with Tim Bresnan, before the young bowler gave Panesar his solitary wicket in the 31st over.

Adil Rashid came and went cheaply, caught by Riki Wessels for 11 off Brown, before Richard Pyrah soon followed him back to the pavilion for four.

Brophy brought up his fifty with a huge six over mid-wicket off Boje but the South African got his revenge soon after when Rob White made the catch which ended his innings.

David Sales' 88 was not enough to give Northants a first win of the campaign

The Steelbacks started their reply confidently and after Niall O’Brien had gone for 24, Wessels came in to join Sales.

Despite blasting Rana for four, the Wessels assault did not last too much longer as he holed out to Bresnan at mid-on.

Rob White followed shortly after off the bowling of Rana while Mark Nelson’s 24 steadied the innings for the Steelbacks.

Boje added 21 but after he was bowled by Rana, Kruis took charge and Northamptonshire fell apart.

Steven Crook went for a duck while Panesar and David Wigley both had their stumps blasted out of the ground by Kruis.

The South African brought proceedings to an abrupt end with the victory line in sight for Northamptonshire, when he bowled Sales.