Game: Yorkshire v Gloucestershire, LV County Championship, Division Two
Date: August 28-31, 2012
Venue: Scarborough CC, North Marine Road
Stage of the season: 14th game of 16
Teams:
Yorkshire – A Lyth, JE Root, PA Jaques, AW Gale c, GS Ballance, A McGrath, AJ Hodd w, A Rafiq, AU Rashid, SA Patterson, MA Ashraf
Gloucestershire – RJ Nicol, BAC Howell, HJH Marshall c, DM Housego, IA Cockbain, JMR Taylor, JN Batty w, AJ Ireland, JK Fuller, WRS Gidman, LC Norwell
Toss: Gloucestershire won it and elected to bat first
Summary:
Yorkshire’s promotion bid was given a major boost with a second nail-biting victory over Gloucestershire. The White Rose had already chased down 400 to win at Bristol earlier in the season thanks to centuries from Phil Jaques and Gary Ballance, and this Festival clash built up to be a feverish finish following two days of rain. Wet weather in May had forced a contrived final day finish, and the return fixture was exactly the same. With promotion on the line, Yorkshire needed to win the fixture in Scarborough. New ball pair Steve Patterson and Moin Ashraf claimed three wickets apiece, as did Azeem Rafiq, as Gloucester were bowled out for 215 on day one before the hosts closed on 61-2. Unfortunately, days two and three were then washed out. There came the contrivance at the start of day four. Yorkshire declared immediately and served up 10 overs of declaration bowling for Gloucester to reach 159-0 – Andrew Gale and Adam Lyth doing the honours. That left Yorkshire a target of 314 in a minimum of 84 overs. At the time, it seemed a generous target but it brought about a thrilling finish as the hosts lost wickets at key times from 159-2. Thankfully, a couple of former Test internationals were the key men in seeing Yorkshire home with 16 balls to spare. The win moved Jason Gillespie’s side up to second in the table, four points clear of third-placed Kent, with two games to play.
