Yorkshire claimed 15 points from their weather-affected draw against fellow Bob Willis Trophy challengers Derbyshire at Emerald Headingley today.
The White Rose have closed the gap from four points to two between themselves and North Group leaders Derby, both of whom have now won two games and drawn the other.
With only two games remaining, the race for top spot in the group intensifies.
Only the two best placed group winners advance, so every point is vital.
And that is why Yorkshire will be a touch frustrated that they were unable to secure a 16th point during a shortened day four.
Derby, replying to a first-innings 400-6 declared, resumed on 198-6 from 70 overs when play started at 2.30pm following overnight and morning rain.
Unfortunately, they reached the 110-over cut-off for the collection of bonus points on 300-7 declared, ending the match immediately.
Had Yorkshire taken nine wickets, they would have claimed three bowling points instead of two.
The two men to blame? Derby’s seventh-wicket pair Matt Critchley and Anuj Dal, who both hit half-centuries and completed a partnership of 104 inside 36 overs.
Critchley hit 63 from 159 balls and Dal 78 not out from 115.
They came together late on day three at 174-6 and batted calmly until Critchley lost his off-stump to Dom Leech early in the fourth evening.
The 201 follow-on target was reached three balls into the day.
Critchley was first to his fifty in the final 20 minutes of the afternoon, off 127 balls with five fours. Dal was more positive in reaching his fifty shortly after tea off 86 balls with nine fours.
Adam Lyth and Harry Brook were employed to go in search of wickets eight and nine, but the game ended immediately upon Derby reaching 300.
Had 138 overs not been lost to rain and bad light in this game, Yorkshire were the most likely winners. Dawid Malan’s brilliant 219 was the standout performance.
Yorkshire’s two remaining games at both at Headingley, against Lancashire on Saturday and Leicestershire, starting September 6.
Elsewhere, Central and South Group leaders Somerset and Essex were both chasing their third successive victories in unfinished games against Warwickshire and Sussex respectively.