Derbyshire v Yorkshire, Friends Provident, Derby

Sun sets on Derbyshire's challenge

Cricinfo staff

June 1, 2007

Yorkshire 253 for 4 (Rudolph 81) beat Derbyshire 195 (Botha 50, Gough 3-34) by 39 runs (D/L)
Scorecard

Derbyshire's problems with the setting sun again caused a delay as they lost their floodlit Friends Provident Trophy match against Yorkshire at Derby by 39 runs.

The configuration of the pitch means that as the sun sets it is right behind the bowler's arm at the City End. Last year the day-night match against Nottinghamshire also had to be suspended, and Derbyshire unsuccessfully appealed to the ECB for special dispensation to bowl all overs from one end to try to get round the problem.

The 55-minute break did not stop Yorkshire pressing on with their bid for a semi-final place as Jacques Rudolph (81) and Craig White (43) put on 122 for the first wicket in a total of 253 for 4.

Derbyshire, who were ravaged by injury, got off to a poor start, even though Darren Gough, who limped off with a hamstring twinge, gifted them six wides in his opening two overs. When the sunset break came they were wobbling on 39 for 3, and that soon became 47 for 5. But Ant Botha (50) and Jamie Pipe (37) added 73 for the sixth wicket to restore some respectability but the home side were always well behind the asking rate. Gough returned to mop up the tail.

The win for Yorkshire gives them a chance of finishing in the top two of the Northern Conference if they can win their remaining two matches.

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