Andrew Gale has hailed Yorkshire’s “strong start” to their Vitality Blast campaign, with a third win from four matches sealed by toppling North Group leaders Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road.

The Vikings coach says he is encouraged by the slick manner of their performances in beating Durham twice and Worcester, who had won four from four heading into this clash.

Yorkshire defended a target of 180 to win by 12 runs, with Tim Bresnan and Steve Patterson claiming three wickets apiece.

Earlier, Gary Ballance’s 40 was the feature of the visitors’ 179-7, and it was actually the top-score of the match.

Coach Gale has also revealed that Yorkshire could have their full complement of internationals available for Friday’s Roses Blast clash with Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.

He also hopes to have all available for the following Championship match, aside from Adil Rashid, who is unavailable for red ball cricket.

“I thought at the halfway stage we might have been 10 short,” said Gale. “I felt 180 was the minimum we needed.

“We lost a little bit of momentum in that 10-15 over period. Fair play to them, they bowled well and took pace off.

“But the communication at half-time was ‘It’s not as good a pitch as you think’. We thought taking pace off was the key. All the way through, taking pace off and back of a length was exactly what we did.

“I thought we took some outstanding catches.

“It wasn’t really spinning, it was more skidding on.

“The plan was to open with a spinner, but we changed our mind at the last minute.

“I also thought Jordan Thompson had a strong debut.”7

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